Echocardiography in cystic fibrosis
M. Gewitz, E. Eshaghpour, D. S. Holsclaw, H. A. Miller and N. Kawai
Echocardiograms were obtained for 25 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and
20 controls to evaluate this technique as a means of assessment of right
ventricular changes in patients with CF. Right ventricular anterior wall
thickness per square meter of body surface (RVAW/sq m) and right
ventricular internal dimension per square meter of body surface (RVID/sq m)
were compared with other techniques for detection of cor pulmonale.
Significant correlations existed between both RVAW/sq m and RVID/sq m and
the forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second,
midmaximal expiratory flow rate, clinical score of severity of disease, and
roentgenographic score of pulmonary involvement. The RVAW/sq m was slightly
more sensitive than RVID/sq m; RVAW/sq m thickness on echocardiogram in
vivo compared well with actual measurements at autopsy in five patients. No
correlations were found between echocardiography and electrocardiograms,
vectorcardiograms, thoracic index, or cardiothoracic ratio.
