the predictability of echocardiography in children with primary pulmonary hypertension and its comparison with cardiac catheterization parameters

Background: pulmonary hypertension (ph) is a serious problem with high mortality in children, so early diagnosis of this condition is critical. echocardiography is a non-invasive hemodynamic assessment tool, which facilitates serial follow-ups for hypertensive patients. objectives: the aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of echocardiographic parameters in children with ph and their correlation with cardiac catheterization parameters. methods: this cross-sectional study was performed on the records of 20 children with primary ph referred to the pediatric cardiology department and clinic of imam reza hospital, mashhad, iran, during 2001-2016. the correlation between echocardiography and cardiac catheterization findings was assessed to determine the predictability of echocardiographic parameters in primary pulmonary hypertension. results: based on the findings, the mean values of tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient (trpg) and peak early diastolic transpulmonary valve pressure gradient (prpg) were 76.33 ± 22.8 and13.18 ± 44.2 mmhg, respectively. the mean of ra systolic pressure, ra diastolic pressure, ra mean pressure were 13.62 ± 4.43, 5.12 ± 2.1, and 6.77 ± 4.08, respectively. the analysis of data showed a significant correlation between systolic pulmonary artery pressure (pap) and trpg (r = 0.62; p = 0.008). we found no significant correlation between systolic pap and prpg (r = 0.58; p = 0.03). additionally, diastolic pap significantly correlated with trpg (r = 0.67; p = 0.003) and prpg (r = 0.64; p = 0.04). moreover, a significant correlation was observed between mean pap and trpg (r = 0.66; p = 0.004) and prpg (r = 0.64; p = 0.04). conclusions: echocardiographic approach is a safe and sensitive method for diagnosis of primary pulmonary hypertension. we found a strong correlation between mean pap and two variables of trpg and prpg.