Diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasound for identification of elevated left ventricular filling pressure

International audience; Aims - The current algorithm in transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) proposed in the 2016 ASE/EACVI recommendation for the estimation of left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) is quite complex and time-consuming. B-lines, in lung ultrasonography (LUS), could constitute an interesting tool for LVFP evaluation in clinical practice, although data regarding their association with invasive haemodynamics are lacking. The purpose of this study was to explore the diagnostic accuracy of B-lines in identifying elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). Method and results - 81 adults with significant dyspnoea (NYHA ≥ 2) were prospectively analyzed by LUS in four areas in each hemithorax and a complete TTE within four hours prior to coronary angiography. Twenty-eight patients had elevated LVEDP. Clinical variables yielded a C-index of 79% to identify elevated LVEDP. The number of total B-lines was higher in the elevated LVEDP group (1.0vs17.0, p