1. Revisiting a classical clinical sign: jugular venous ultrasound.
- Author
-
Pellicori P, Kallvikbacka-Bennett A, Zhang J, Khaleva O, Warden J, Clark AL, and Cleland JG
- Subjects
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Atrial Function, Right physiology, Chronic Disease, Comorbidity, Female, Heart Failure epidemiology, Heart Failure physiopathology, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pulmonary Artery physiology, Risk Factors, Stroke Volume physiology, Valsalva Maneuver physiology, Ventricular Dysfunction, Left epidemiology, Ventricular Dysfunction, Left physiopathology, Heart Failure diagnostic imaging, Jugular Veins diagnostic imaging, Ultrasonography methods, Venous Pressure physiology, Ventricular Dysfunction, Left diagnostic imaging
- Abstract
Background: Increased jugular venous pressure, reflecting the increased right atrial pressure, is a classical sign of heart failure (HF) but clinical assessment may be difficult., Methods: In ambulatory patients with HF and control subjects, jugular vein diameter (JVD) was measured using a linear high-frequency ultrasound probe (10 MHz) at rest, during a Valsalva manoeuvre and during deep inspiration. JVD ratio was calculated as diameter during Valsalva to that at rest., Results: 211 patients (mean age 70 years; mean left ventricular ejection fraction 43%) and 20 controls were included. JVD (median and inter-quartile [IQR] range) at rest was 0.17 (0.15-0.20) cm in controls and 0.23 (0.17-0.33) cm in patients with HF (p=0.012), JVD ratio was 6.3 (4.3-6.8) in controls and 4.4 (2.7-5.8) in patients with HF (p=0.001).With increasing quartiles of plasma NT-proBNP, JVD at rest rose (0.20 (0.15-0.23) cm, 0.21 (0.16-0.29) cm, 0.25 (0.18-0.35) cm and 0.34 (0.20-0.53) cm (P=<0.001), whilst JVD ratio decreased (5.4 (4.2-6.4), 4.4 (3.5-6.3), 3.9 (2.4-5.4) and 2.8 (1.7-4.7); p=<0.001). JVD ratio correlated with log (NT-proBNP) (r=-0.39, p=<0.001), LV filling pressures (E/E', r=-0.33, p=<0.001) and left atrial volume (r=-0.21, p=0.002). In a multivariable regression model, only trans-tricuspid gradient and TAPSE were independently associated with JVD ratio (R(2)=0.27)., Conclusions: Distension of the JV at rest relative to the maximum diameter during a Valsalva manoeuvre (JVD ratio) identifies patients with heart failure who have higher plasma NT-proBNP levels, right ventricular dysfunction and raised pulmonary artery pressure., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF