Relationship of the Pulmonary Artery/Aorte Tomographic Index with Echocardiographic Values in Patients with Interstitial Pulmonary Diseases

Abstract

Introduction: Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD) present alterations that affect the alveolar-interstitial structure. They are usually complicated by Pulmonary Hypertension (PH), worsening their prognosis, with a prevalence from 28% to 85%. Right catheterization is the gold standard, but it can present complications. In patients with ILD, other additional evaluations are necessary, such as Pulmonary Artery/Aorte (Ap/Ao) tomographic index to suspect PH diagnosis.
Aim: to identify the correlation of the Ap/Ao tomographic index with echocardiographic values in patients with ILD.
Material and methods: in a retrospective and cross-sectional study, we evaluated 41 patients with ILD, divided according to their Maximum Tricuspid Regurgitation Speed (MTR): 26 with > 2.8 m/s and 15 with < 2.8 m/s, in addition 10 controls; We recorded demographic data, comorbidities and obtained the Ap/Ao ratio by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and it was correlated with echocardiographic findings.
Results: male gender predominated in the cohort. A strong correlation positive was obtained in the group ILD with MTR >2.8 m/s between Ap/Ao index and the Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure (PASP)  [Rho: 0.69, p = 0.0001].
Conclusion: the Ap/Ao index presented a strong positive correlation with respect to PASP in the group with MTR> 2.8 m/s, unlike the group MTR <2.8 m/s, so we can suggest the use of this index together with PASP as auxiliary tool for the diagnosis of PH in patients with ILD.