Pulmonary hypertension: the role of the electrocardiogram

• Published in: Netherlands heart journal Vol. 16; no. 7; pp. 250 - 254
• Main Authors: Henkens, I. R., Scherptong, R. W. C., van Kralingen, K. W., Said, S. A. M., Vliegen, H. W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Houten Bohn Stafleu van Loghum 01.08.2008
• Subjects: Cardiology; Case Report; Medical Education; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; follow-up; diagnosis; electrocardiogram; right ventricular hypertrophy; pulmonary hypertension
• ISSN: 1568-5888; 1876-6250
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03086156

A 54-year-old female was referred to our centre for further evaluation of recently established severe pulmonary hypertension. Six months prior to presentation to the cardiologist of the referring centre, the patient had first experienced exertional dyspnoea. At the time of presentation to the referring cardiologist, the patient's ECG showed signs of an increased right heart load. Interestingly, this patient had undergone a thorough cardiac evaluation in the referring centre seven years before when she presented with severe hyperthyroidism. At that time there were no symptoms or signs of pulmonary hypertension on ECG, echocardiography, or at heart catheterisation. Thorough evaluation in cooperation with the referring centre demonstrated that this patient was suffering from idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare form of pulmonary hypertension. We conclude this report with a discussion on the potential use of the ECG for the diagnosis of increased right heart load. (Neth Heart J 2008;16:250-4.).