P2.22 THE NEWEST METHOD FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Abstract

Objectives: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating lung vascular disease. Despite advances in the diagnosis of this condition, early detection and ascertainment of the genesis of pulmonary hypertension are still a difficult task.We supposed that the method of Single photon emission computed tomography - computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging facility is a good alternative in the diagnosis of genesis of pulmonary hypertension, especially in the early period of the disease and in patients with complex differential diagnosis. Methods: We examined 10 people with suspected pulmonary hypertension. Previously, patients underwent right heart catheterization and CT-angiography. Three patients diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension was not confirmed, in four cases was suspected idiopathic pulmonary hypertension and in three cases - pulmonary embolism. After that, seven patients with pulmonary hypertension were performed SPECT / CT with intravenous injection of the radiopharmaceutical 99Tc-MAA (macro-aggregates of albumin). Results: Due to the capabilities of the SPECT / CT to assess perfusion at the level of subsegmental pulmonary artery, the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism was additionally established in two patients from the group with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. In other cases, the diagnoses were correct. Conclusions: In our data we established, that the using of SPECT / CT has helped us to establish the correct diagnosis that allows us to assign the proper and timely treatment. So, we confirmed our hypothesis, that the modern method of diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension - SPECT / CT - is no less accurate than the standard methods, and is probably preferable in difficult diagnostic cases.