[Echocardiographic evaluation of pulmonary arterial hypertension].

We performed an echocardiographic and hemodynamic study in 10 patients with cath proven pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The results show that the echocardiographic pattern of PTH such as flat diastolic pulmonary echo, premature closing, flutter, abscense of "A" wave, in creased opening velocity and changes in the right ventricular systolic time intervals, are equivocal. The most common echo finding in our study, was the increased opening velocity. Other echo data could be absent despite the true presence of pulmonary hypertension in a particular case. This report shows similar findings to a recent one published elsewhere (12) with no correlation between echo and hemodynamic data.