Role of echocardiography in diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive process that leads to right ventricular (RV) overload, hypertrophy, dilatation and RV failure. In cases with chronic heart failure, this condition is associated with more severe symptoms and worse outcomes.Transthoracic echocardiography can give several parameters which correlate with right heart haemodynamics, and should be performed in a case of suspected PH. Several parameters are important for estimation of the RV function, which can be reason for poor outcome: right atrial and ventricular dimensions and volumes, functional area changes, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), myocardial performance index, infe- rior vena cava size and collapsibility, S velocity estimated by Tissue Doppler Imaging, and additional information obtained from the advance echocardiograpic techniques, like strain, strain rate, three-dimensional echocardiography. Estimation of PH based on Doppler echo- cardiography measurements is not suitable for screening of mild, asymptomatic PH. Echocardiography can be recommended as a screening tool for specific diseases, follow up PH, and assessment when right heart catheterization is indicated.