Purpose: Studies on imaging findings in mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) are limited. This study assessed the relationship between CT-derived parameters (pulmonary artery diameter [PAD] and lung parenchymal abnormalities [LPA]) and estimated pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in patients with MCTD. Materials and Methods: This single-center retrospective study enrolled consecutive patients with MCTD who underwent CT and echocardiography within 6 months between December 2004 and November 2021. Chest CT was used to measure PAD (mm) and evaluate LPA (%). LPA was quantitatively assessed for reticular, ground-glass opacities, consolidation, or honeycombing. Peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) on echocardiography was considered to reflect PAP. Correlation and partial correlation analyses were performed to assess the relationship between CT-derived parameters and peak TRV. Results: Overall, 116 patients (mean age 50.0 ± 17.0 years [SD]) with a median disease duration of 3.0 years had a median peak TRV of 2.28 m/sec and median PAD of 27.0 mm. Pulmonary hypertension was found in 18 (15.5%) patients. LPA was observed in 52 patients, with a median of 0.0% and a mean of 4.5% ± 8.9 [SD]. Peak TRV was correlated with PAD (r = 0.58, p < 0.001) and LPA (r = 0.40, p < 0.001). Peak TRV, adjusted for other CT parameters and confounding factors, showed a partial correlation with PAD (r = 0.49, p < 0.001) but was not correlated with LPA (r = 0.19, p = 0.04). Conclusion: A moderate positive correlation was observed in patients with MCTD between PAD and estimated PAP, irrespective of the presence of LPA, whereas LPA was not correlated with estimated PAP.
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