Echocardiography in cystic fibrosis.

Echocardiograms were obtained for 25 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and 20 
controls to evaluate this technique as a means of assessment of 
right ventricular changes in patients with CF. Right ventricular anterior wall 
thickness per square meter of body surface (RVAW/sq m) and right 
ventricular internal dimension per square meter of body surface (RVID/sq m) 
were compared with other techniques for detection of cor pulmonale. Significant 
correlations existed between both RVAW/sq m and RVID/sq m and the 
forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, midmaximal expiratory 
flow rate, clinical score of severity of disease, and roentgenographic score 
of pulmonary involvement. The RVAW/sq m was slightly more sensitive than 
RVID/sq m; RVAW/sq m thickness on echocardiogram in vivo compared well 
with actual measurements at autopsy in five patients. No correlations were 
found between echocardiography and electrocardiograms, vectorcardiograms, thoracic index, or cardiothoracic ratio. 
