Doppler signals can be recorded from the lung parenchyma by means of a pulsed Doppler ultrasound system incorporating a special signal processing package- the Transthoracic Parametric Doppler (TPD) (Echosense Ltd., Haifa, Israel). Systemic sclerosis patients often develop pulmonary vascular disease leading to pulmonary hypertension. The TPD system may provide important insight into pulmonary blood vessels characteristics by the LDS (Lung Doppler Signals) signals that are related to pulmonary hypertension. The TPD performance in detecting PAH in SSc patients will be assessed in the study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Recording Doppler ultrasound noninvasively from the right chest wall
1. Number of SSc patients correctly identified with pulmonary hypertension severity in each of the 4 defined groups by RHC.
Analyze Doppler data of 4 SSc groups (according to pulmonary hypertension severity) resulting in typical features. The features will be implemented in a pre-determined diagnostic algorithm that will determine the overall statistical success of the method in comparison to RHC data.
Time frame: 12 month
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