Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare pathology with a poor prognosis and a median survival lower than 3 years in the absence of a specific treatment.
The prognostic evaluation is based on clinical and hemodynamic data needing the right cardiac catheterization. It has been shown that prognosis depends essentially on the severity of right ventricular dysfunction. Recently, various echocardiographic parameters derived from new techniques such as tissue Doppler have been validated for the evaluation of right ventricular function. Some have been used as prognostic factor in cardiac insufficiency, but not in PAH.
This is an observational retrospective and then prospective study. Usual PAH assessment includes a complete clinical and paraclinical evaluation. History and physical examination assess dyspnea, search signs of disease severity and quantify functional impact of 6 min-walking test. An echocardiography and a right cardiac catheterization are realized in all patients. Clinical consultations of patients and control echocardiographic and hemodynamic examinations are programmed at regular intervals.
The demonstration of prognostic value of some echocardiographic parameters could diminish right cardiac catheterizations.
