Stress echocardiography in the evaluation of exercise physiology in patients with severe arterial pulmonary hypertension. New methodology.

1. RV/RAg did not diminish in the standing position and rose significantly with orthostatic isotonic exercise during exercise testing in patients with severe PHT, with pulmonary artery systolic pressure reaching suprasystemic values. 2. Systolic volume and systolic blood pressure did not rise during exercise in patients with severe PHT, and patients with a decrease in systolic volume had worse clinical evolution. 3. Patients with severe PHT appeared to have chronotropic incompetence during exercise compared to the control group.