title: Prediction of right ventricular dysfunction from radiographic estimates of right descending pulmonary artery in hemodynamically stable pulmonary embolism patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The evaluation of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction by echocardiography is one of the most important established determinants of the prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism. The aim of the study was to investigate possible association between diameter of right descending pulmonary artery on chest X-rays and RV dysfunction by echocardiography in hemodynamically stable pulmonary embolism patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-nine patients with the diagnosis of hemodynamically stable pulmonary embolism were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of RV dysfunction was significantly higher in patients with an enlarged right descending pulmonary artery on chest X-rays (p = 0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between the diameter of the right descending pulmonary artery on postero-anterior chest X-rays and the diameter of the RV (r = 0.469; p = 0.002). Diameter of right descending pulmonary artery on chest X-rays was also found as a significant predictor of RV dysfunction besides the troponin-T levels and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diameter of right descending pulmonary artery on chest X-rays may provide information about the risk for pulmonary embolism patients and may be used as a prognostic radiological parameter for the appropriate management of acute pulmonary embolism.
authors.affiliation: Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey. abulyasin@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Yasin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abul
authors.forename: Savas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozsu
authors.forename: Sait
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karakurt
authors.forename: Beste
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozben
authors.forename: Ismet
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Durmus
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toprak
authors.forename: Tevfik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozlu
authors.forename: Turgay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Celikel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D062186:Arterial Pressure; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D020107:Troponin T / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020107:Troponin T