Frequency and prognostic significance at pericardial effusion in primary pulmonary hypertension

Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is characterized by increased pulmonar y vascular resistance and elevated pulmonary arterial pressure, which often result in abnormalities in right-sided heart structure and function. These abnormalities include right ventricular and right atrial dilatation, decre ased right ventricular contractile function, displacement of the ventricula r septum, and tricuspid regurgitation.(1-5) We and others(1,5) also noted a high prevalence of pericardial effusion in patients with PPH. In this arti cle, we report the relations of pericardial effusion size to hemodynamics, right-sided heart structure and function, exercise capacity, and survival i n patients with severely symptomatic PPH.