ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the diagnostic value of 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonic cardiography in women with high altitude pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Methods Seventy-six women with high altitude PAH treated at our hospital were divided into either an MRI group (group A) or an ultrasonic cardiography group (group B), with 38 cases in each group. Fifty healthy women from high altitude areas were enrolled as a control group (group C). Group A underwent MRI examination alone, Group B underwent ultrasonic cardiography examination alone, and Group C underwent concomitant MRI and ultrasonic cardiography examinations. Diagnosis accuracy and diagnostic results were compared among different groups. Results Compared with group B, diagnosis accuracy significantly rose in group A (P < 0.05). MRI showed that except right ventricular end diastolic transverse diameter,left atrial diameter, aortic diameter, and right ventricular end systolic transverse diameter, other indexes differed significantly between groups A and C (P < 0.05). Ultrasonic cardiography showed that the SPAP of group B was (44.5 ± 8.6) mmHg. Right ventricular outflow tract, pulmonary artery, right ventricular inner diameter, right atrial inner diameter, right ventricle anterior wall, interventricular septal thickness, right ventricular Tei index, and right ventricular ejection fraction differed significantly between groups B and C (P<0.05), although there was no significant difference in LVEF or LV-Tei between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Both MRI and ultrasonic cardiography can diagnoses high altitude PAH in women effectively. MRI can accurately evaluate the heart structure and function in women with high altitude PAH, representing a more efficient diagnostic method.