Cardiac bioimpedance as a non-invasive tool in patients with pulmonary hypertension

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious disease diagnosed by echocardiography and right heart catheterization. Left ventricular dysfunction and decreased cardiac output is a common feature in pulmonary hypertension. The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiac bioimpedance (CBI) as a possible non-invasive tool in hemodynamic monitoring. Methods: 19 patients (19-76 years) with IPAH or CTEPH (PAPm 48±14,4 mmHg; PVR 799±497 dyn s cm -5 ) and 6 healthy volunteers were measured simultaneously by thoracic echocardiography and non-invasive cardiac bioimpedance (CBI) using a BoMed NCCOM3. Parameters were standardized by body surface area. Linear regression analysis and F-Test were performed. Results: Left ventricular end diastolic volume index in CBI correlated with echocardiography measurements in both M-Mode (r=0,6181; p=0,002) and B-Mode (Simpson, r=0,8431, p Conclusions: In patients with IPAH or CTEPH, cardiac bioimpedance might be a useful non-invasive tool in monitoring left ventricular hemodynamics including left ventricular preload and cardiac output.