Spectral doppler of the hepatic veins in pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

Pulsed-wave Doppler interrogation of the hepatic veins (HVs) provides a window to right heart hemodynamics and function. Various pathologies that involve the right heart are manifested on the HV Doppler depending on the location and severity of the involvement and its hemodynamic consequences. Pulmonary hypertension (PHTN), a common finding on echocardiographic studies, imparts changes on the HV Doppler that are important to recognize. In this article, we provide a review of the main abnormalities that are encountered on the HV Doppler in patients with PHTN.