Estimation of right atrial pressure on inferior vena cava ultrasound in Asian patients.
BACKGROUND
Right atrial pressure (RAP) is commonly estimated using inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter and its respirophasic variations. Although a guideline has been provided for estimation of RAP due to variation in IVC dimensions based on studies in Western subjects, echocardiographic values in Asian subjects are unknown.


RESULTS
We studied 369 patients who underwent IVC ultrasound within 24h of right heart catheterization (RHC). The maximum and minimum IVC diameter during a respiratory cycle and the percent collapse after a sniff test were measured. These IVC parameters were compared with mean RAP measured on RHC. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for each IVC parameter to determine the optimal cut-off to detect RAP >10mmHg. The IVC maximum diameter cut-off for detecting RAP >10mmHg was 19mm (sensitivity, 75%; specificity, 78%) and the percent collapse cut-off was 30% (sensitivity, 75%; specificity, 83%). Both cut-offs were smaller than those previously reported in patients from Western countries. When the cut-off values from the existing guideline were applied to the present cohort, the sensitivity and specificity for normal RAP (0-5mmHg) were 38.6% and 74.2%, respectively, and 60.0% and 92.0% for elevated RAP (>10mmHg).


CONCLUSIONS
The optimal IVC maximum diameter and percent collapse cut-offs to detect elevated RAP were smaller in Asian subjects than in a previously reported Western cohort.
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo.
Seitetsu L
SL
Lee
Masao
M
Daimon
Takayuki
T
Kawata
Takahide
T
Kohro
Koichi
K
Kimura
Tomoko
T
Nakao
Daisuke
D
Koide
Masafumi
M
Watanabe
Tsutomu
T
Yamazaki
Issei
I
Komuro
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D016275:Atrial Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017082:Portal Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*