title: Prevalence of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Korean Adult Patients with Systemic Sclerosis: Result of a Pilot Echocardiographic Screening Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Early detection and prompt treatment of PAH associated with SSc (SSc-PAH) result in better prognosis. We conducted echocardiographic study to presume the prevalence of PAH in Korean adult SSc patients and to diagnose SSc-PAH in their early stages with right heart catheterization (RHC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed free of charge echocardiographic study including 37 adult SSc patients at the Chungnam National University Hospital. The possibility of PAH is determined by the estimation of pulmonary arterial pressure by peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity of > 3.0 m/s. Patients with possible PAH were recommended to undergo RHC to confirm the diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 37 patients, 8 patients were suspected with PAH. Among them, 6 patients agreed to be examined with RHC, and 4 were confirmed with PAH. The prevalence of possible PAH was 21.6% (8 of 37 patients), and that of confirmed PAH was 10.8% (4 of 37 patients). Four patients who were confirmed with SSc-PAH through RHC have been treated with specific pulmonary vasodilators and maintained stable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eight patients (21.6%) were possible PAH and 4 (10.8%) were diagnosed as SSc-PAH by RHC after the echocardiographic screening study of 37 adult SSc patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Su-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Hyeong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yunseon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Joo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jinhyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: In Seol
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Cheol
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kang
keywords: Echocardiography; Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Right heart catheterization; Screening; Systemic sclerosis