Classification tree criteria of pulmonary hypertension in mixed connective tissue disease

Tree criteria for the classification of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) were developed by stratifying patients into groups according to the physician’s diagnosis, mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPA) and prognosis, respectively. A classification tree for PH diagnosed by the physician was constructed with two criteria: dilatation of the pulmonary artery segment evident on chest roentgenography (or an accentuated pulmonic sound as a surrogate) and shortness of breath on exertion, which demonstrated a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 99%. A classification tree for PH diagnosed by mPA was also constructed with almost similar criteria: an accentuated pulmonic sound (or dilatation of the pulmonary artery segment evident on chest roentgenography as a surrogate) and shortness of breath on exertion, which demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 100%. The prognostic classification tree was constructed with four criteria: an accentuated pulmonic sound, systolic pulsation at the left sternal border, shortness of breath on exertion and retro-sternal pain on exertion, which demonstrated a sensitivity of 62% and a specificity of 98%. The classification tree criteria for the diagnosis and prognosis of PH in MCTD were found to be accurate and useful for the screening of PH.