Redefining effusive-constrictive pericarditis with echocardiography
Date
2016-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Korean Society of Journal of Cardiovascular Ultrasound Office
Abstract
Background:
Effusive-constrictive pericarditis (ECP) is traditionally diagnosed by using the expensive and invasive technique of direct pressure measurements in the pericardial space and the right atrium. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic role of echocardiography in tuberculous ECP.
Methods:
Intrapericardial and right atrial pressures were measured pre- and post-pericardiocentesis, and right ventricular and left ventricular pressures were measured post-pericardiocentesis in patients with tuberculous pericardial effusions. Echocardiography was performed post-pericardiocentesis. Traditional, pressure-based diagnostic criteria were compared with post-pericardiocentesis systolic discordance and echocardiographic evidence of constriction.
Results:
Thirty-two patients with tuberculous pericardial disease were included. Sixteen had ventricular discordance (invasively measured), 16 had ECP as measured by intrapericardial and right atrial invasive pressure measurements and 17 had ECP determined echocardiographically. The sensitivity and specificity of pressure-guided measurements (compared with discordance) for the diagnosis of ECP were both 56%. The positive and negative predictive values were both 56%. The sensitivity of echocardiography (compared with discordance) for the diagnosis of ECP was 81% and the specificity 75%, while the positive and the negative predictive values were 76% and 80%, respectively.
Conclusion:
Echocardiography shows a better diagnostic performance than invasive, pressure-based measurements for the diagnosis of ECP when both these techniques are compared with the gold standard of invasively measured systolic discordance.
Description
CITATION: Van der Bijl, P., Herbst, P. & Doubell, A. F. 2016. Redefining effusive-constrictive pericarditis with echocardiography. Journal of Cardiovascular Ultrasound, 24(4):317-323, doi:10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.317.
The original publication is available at http://www.kse-jcu.org
The original publication is available at http://www.kse-jcu.org
Keywords
Tuberculosis, Effusive-constrictive pericarditis, Echocardiography, Pericardium -- Diseases
Citation
Van der Bijl, P., Herbst, P. & Doubell, A. F. 2016. Redefining effusive-constrictive pericarditis with echocardiography. Journal of Cardiovascular Ultrasound, 24(4):317-323, doi:10.4250/jcu.2016.24.4.317.