title: [Magnetic resonance imaging and pulmonary hypertension: towards an improved evaluation of right heart and pulmonary circulation].
abstract: In patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), right ventricular (RV) function carries prognostic implications and this explains why RV function must be systematically evaluated at baseline and during follow-up. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance imaging (CMR) is nowadays considered the gold standard technique for non-invasively evaluating RV morphology and function. Pulmonary hemodynamics may be also successfully studied by CMR.The severity and prognosis of PH are related to a number of CMR-derived cardiac and pulmonary artery variables. The main CMR-derived cardiac variables related to the severity and prognosis of PH are a lowered RV ejection fraction, paradoxical septal motion and decreased left ventricular dimension relative to RV. The main CMR-derived pulmonary artery variables related to the severity and prognosis of PH are a decreased compliance and decreased mean fl ow velocity. CMR plays a key role in the non-invasive evaluation of RV function and pulmonary hemodynamics of PH patients. It is likely that CMR will improve the rationale evaluation and survey of these patients in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Service de Radiologie, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, AP-HP, Université Paris Sud, Clamart. nicos1977@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Creuzé
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoette
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chemla
mesh_terms: D003326:Coronary Circulation; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation