[Diagnosis value of electrocardiogram in patients with pulmonary artery hypertension].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the diagnostic value of electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) confirmed by right-heart catheterization (RHC).


METHODS
A total of 64 patients with suspected PAH [sPAP > or = 36 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) estimated by echocardiography] were enrolled in this study. All patients were examined by 12-lead ECG within half an hour before RHC.


RESULTS
PAH was excluded in 26 patients and confirmed in 38 patients. ECG analysis showed that S amplitude > 0.21 mV in lead I, QRS axis > 87 degrees , R(V1) + S(V5) > 0.76 mV were good parameters for diagnosing PAH with sensibility and specificity of 89%, 81%; 86%, 92%; 84%, 83%, respectively. QRS axis was positively correlated with mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) (r = 0.75, P < 0.001), R(V1) + S(V5) was positively correlated with pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (r = 0.74, P < 0.001), R(V1) + S(V5) and S amplitude in lead I was negatively correlated with cardiac index (CI) (r = -0.62, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
ECG combined with echocardiography are adequate screening tools to rule out the presence of PAH. QRS axis, R(V1) + S(V5) and S amplitude in lead I were significantly correlated with hemodynamic parameters derived from RHC in PAH patients.
Zhao
Qin-hua
QH
Department of Pulmonary Circulation, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Xu
Xi-Qi
XQ
Jing
Zhi-cheng
ZC
Sun
Ming-li
ML
Dai
Li-zhi
LZ
Wu
Wen-hui
WH
Jiang
Xin
X
He
Jing
J
Li
Yun
Y
D000328:Adult; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography