Noninvasive detection of pulmonary hypertension in patent ductus arteriosus by pulsed Doppler echocardiography.

Twenty-five patients with proven patent ductus arteriosus were examined by pulsed Doppler echocardiography (PDE) before invasive assessment. Ten patients had normal pulmonary artery pressures, and by PDE, pandiastolic ductal flow. Fifteen patients had elevation of mean pulmonary artery pressure, and by PDE, all had abbreviations of diastolic ductal flow. PDE correctly distinguished between patients with normal pressure and those with evidence of pulmonary hypertension; the ECG did not allow such differentiation. Detection by PDE of pulmonary hypertension complicating patent ductus arteriosus appears to be clinically useful.