title: Assessment of Pulmonary Hypertension in Lung Transplantation Candidates: Correlation of Doppler Echocardiography With Right Heart Catheterization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Right heart catheterization (RHC) remains the gold standard to diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension among lung transplantation candidates. Doppler echocardiography (DE) may be as accurate as RHC, without risks of an invasive test. The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of DE for the measurement of pulmonary artery pressure in lung transplantation candidates and the correlation between pulmonary artery pressures estimated by DE versus measured by RHC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 103 lung transplantation candidates undergoing DE who were scheduled to undergo RHC within 72 hours were analyzed. The performance characteristics of DE were compared with RHC, and correlation analysis was performed to determine the correlation of pulmonary pressures obtained by DE versus measured by RHC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of pulmonary hypertension was 57% in lung transplantation candidates. Of the 103 candidates, evaluation of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) by DE was possible in 92 (89%). Median PASP by RHC was 45 (12-145) mm Hg and by DE 45 (20-144) mm Hg. There was a positive correlation between PASP estimated by DE and measured by RHC (r = 0.585, P < .0001). Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of PASP estimation for diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension were 85%, 67%, 87%, and 61%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a strong positive correlation between PASP estimated by DE compared with measured by RHC with an acceptable sensitivity and specificity in detecting pulmonary hypertension. Echocardiography can be recommended for measuring pulmonary pressures in lung transplantation candidates.
authors: Kartal Kosuyolu Yuksek Ihtisas Training Hospital, Lung Transplantation Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: drmkalamanoglu@gmail.com.
authors: M K
authors: MK
authors: Balcı
authors: Kartal Training Hospital, Department of Nephrology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Arı
authors: Kartal Kosuyolu Yuksek Ihtisas Training Hospital, Lung Transplantation Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Vayvada
authors: Sureyyapasa Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training Hospital, Intensive Care Unit, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Salturk
authors: Marmara University School of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Pendik, Turkey.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Aşıcıoğlu
authors: Koşuyolu Kartal Heart Training Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Kahveci
authors: Koşuyolu Kartal Heart Training Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Ö Y
authors: ÖY
authors: Akbal
authors: Kartal Kosuyolu Yuksek Ihtisas Training Hospital, Lung Transplantation Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: C A
authors: CA
authors: Kutlu
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000592:standards; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity