Ultrasound imaging of congestion in heart failure – examinations beyond the heart

Pellicori, P. et al. (2020) Ultrasound imaging of congestion in heart failure – examinations beyond the heart. European Journal of Heart Failure, (doi: 10.1002/ejhf.2032) (PMID:33118672) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

Congestion, related to pressures and/or fluid overload, plays a central role in the pathophysiology, presentation and prognosis of heart failure and is an important therapeutic target. While symptoms and physical signs of fluid overload are required to make a clinical diagnosis of heart failure, they lack both sensitivity and specificity, which might lead to diagnostic delay and uncertainty. Over the last decades, new ultrasound methods for the detection of elevated intracardiac pressures and/or fluid overload have been developed that are more sensitive and specific, thereby enabling earlier and more accurate diagnosis and facilitating treatment strategies. Accordingly, we considered that a state‐of‐the‐art review of ultrasound methods for the detection and quantification of congestion was timely, including imaging of the heart, lungs (B‐lines), kidneys (intrarenal venous flow), and venous system (inferior vena cava and internal jugular vein diameter).

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cleland, Professor John and McMurray, Professor John and Pellicori, Dr Pierpaolo
• Authors: Pellicori, P., Platz, E., Dauw, J., ter Maaten, J. M., Martens, P., Pivetta, E., Cleland, J. G.F., McMurray, J. J.V., Mullens, W., Solomon, S. D., Zannad, F., Gargani, L., and Girerd, N.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > Institute of Health and Wellbeing > Robertson Centre
• Journal Name: European Journal of Heart Failure
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 1388-9842
• ISSN (Online): 1879-0844
• Published Online: 29 October 2020