Background-Genetically modified mice offer the unique opportunity to gain insight into the pathophysiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension. In mice, right heart catheterization is the only available technique to measure right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP). However, it is a terminal procedure and does not allow for serial measurements.Our objective was to validate a noninvasive technique to assess RVSP in mice. Methods and Results-Right ventricle catheterization and echocardiography (30-MHz transducer) were simultaneously performed in mice with pulmonary hypertension induced acutely by infusion of a thromboxane analogue, U-46619, or chronically by lung-specific overexpression of interleukin-6. Pulmonary acceleration time (PAT) and ejection time (ET) were measured in the parasternal short-axis view by pulsed-wave Doppler of pulmonary artery flow. Infusion of U-46619 acutely increased RVSP, shortened PAT, and decreased PAT/ET. The pulmonary flow pattern changed from symmetrical at baseline to asymmetrical at higher RVSPs. In wild-type and interleukin-6 -overexpressing mice, the PAT correlated linearly with RVSP (r
Background-Genetically-modified mice offer the unique opportunity to gain insights into the pathophysiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In mice, right heart catheterization is the only available technique to measure right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP). However, it is a terminal procedure and does not allow for serial measurements. Our objective was to validate a non-invasive technique to assess RVSP in mice.Methods and Results-Right ventricle catheterization and echocardiography (30-MHz transducer) were simultaneously performed in mice with pulmonary hypertension induced acutely by infusion of a thromboxane analogue, U-46619, or chronically by lung-specific over-expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6). Pulmonary acceleration time (PAT) and ejection time (ET) were measured in the parasternal short axis view by pulsed-wave Doppler of pulmonary artery flow. Infusion of U-46619 acutely increased RVSP, shortened PAT, and decreased PAT/ET. The pulmonary flow pattern changed from symmetric at baseline to asymmetric at higher RVSPs. In wild-type and IL-6-over-expressing mice, the PAT correlated linearly with RVSP (r 2 =−0.67; p<0.0001), as did PAT/ET (r 2 =−0.76; p<0.0001). Sensitivity and specificity for detecting high RVSP (>32 mmHg) were 100% (7/7) and 86% (6/7), respectively, for both indices (cutoff values: PAT <21 ms and
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