Non-invasive stroke volume assessment in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: left-sided data mandatory

• Main Authors: Westerhof Nico, Postmus Pieter E, Boonstra Anco, Marcus J Tim, Mauritz Gert-Jan, Vonk-Noordegraaf Anton
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2008-11-01
• Series: Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
• Online Access: http://www.jcmr-online.com/content/10/1/51
• ISSN: 1097-6647; 1532-429X

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) is an emerging modality in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH). Derivation of stroke volume (SV) from the pulmonary flow curves is considered as a standard in this respect. Our aim was to investigate the accuracy of pulmonary artery (PA) flow for measuring SV.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty-four PAH patients underwent both CMR and right-sided heart catheterisation. CMR-derived SV was measured by PA flow, left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) volumes, and, in a subset of nine patients also by aortic flow. These SV values were compared to the SV obtained by invasive Fick method.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For SV by PA flow versus Fick, r = 0.71, mean difference was -4.2 ml with limits of agreement 26.8 and -18.3 ml. For SV by LV volumes versus Fick, r = 0.95, mean difference was -0.8 ml with limits of agreement of 8.7 and -10.4 ml. For SV by RV volumes versus Fick, r = 0.73, mean difference -0.75 ml with limits of agreement 21.8 and -23.3 ml. In the subset of nine patients, SV by aorta flow versus Fick yielded r = 0.95, while in this subset SV by pulmonary flow versus Fick yielded r = 0.76. For all regression analyses, p < 0.0001.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In conclusion, SV from PA flow has limited accuracy in PAH patients. LV volumes and aorta flow are to be preferred for the measurement of SV.</p>