My echo shows pressures of 50, but the right heart cath showed normal. Could I still have PAH?
The right heart catheterization is the most accurate way to measure pulmonary artery pressure. However, an isolated measurement by either method may not give a true representation of the pressure over a 24 hour period during a variety of activities since pressure may fluctuate. Measuring pressures during exercise can sometimes be useful if there is concern about the possibility of abnormal rise in pressure with activity, but interpreting results of such testing remains a matter of some debate. In some situations repeating a right heart catheterization following a year can be useful to double check on the pressures if uncertainty about the diagnosis persists.
