Objective To assess the diagnostic value of 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonic cardiography in women with high altitude pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Methods Seventy-six women with high altitude PAH treated at our hospital were divided into either an MRI group (group A) or an ultrasonic cardiography group (group B), with 38 cases in each group. Fifty healthy women from high altitude areas were enrolled as a control group (group C). Group A underwent MRI examination alone, Group B underwent ultrasonic cardiography examination alone, and Group C underwent concomitant MRI and ultrasonic cardiography examinations. Diagnosis accuracy and diagnostic results were compared among different groups. Results Compared with group B, diagnosis accuracy significantly rose in group A (P < 0.05). MRI showed that except right ventricular end diastolic transverse diameter,left atrial diameter, aortic diameter, and right ventricular end systolic transverse diameter, other indexes differed significantly between groups A and C (P < 0.05). Ultrasonic cardiography showed that the SPAP of group B was (44.5 ± 8.6) mmHg. Right ventricular outflow tract, pulmonary artery, right ventricular inner diameter, right atrial inner diameter, right ventricle anterior wall, interventricular septal thickness, right ventricular Tei index, and right ventricular ejection fraction differed significantly between groups B and C (P<0.05), although there was no significant difference in LVEF or LV-Tei between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Both MRI and ultrasonic cardiography can diagnoses high altitude PAH in women effectively. MRI can accurately evaluate the heart structure and function in women with high altitude PAH, representing a more efficient diagnostic method.

Objective To analyze the differences of coronary artery anomalies between Han and Tibetan nationality living in middle and high altitude.Methods A total of 7 028 adults living in the Qinghai Plateau (1 800-7 720 m altitude),who underwent coronary CT angiography in Qinghai Cardiocerebro-vascular Disease Special Hospital between 2010 to 2015,were included in this study.There were 6 391 cases of the Han nationality and 637 cases of the Tibetan nationality.The differences of coronary artery anomalies between Han and Tibetan nationality were analyzed retrospectively.Results (1) Incidence of coronary artery anomalies was lower in Han nationality than in the Tibetan nationality (1.596％ (102/6 391) vs.4.239％ (27/637),P ＜0.001).(2) There was 64.7％ (66/102) male residents with coronary artery anomalies in Han nationality,and 74.1％ (20/27) male residents with coronary artery anomalies in Tibetan nationality (P =0.359).(3) Left side coronary artery anomalies in Han nationality was similar as in Tibetan nationality (64.4％ (67/104) vs.55.6％ (15/27),P =0.396).(4) Incidence of benign coronary artery anomalies was significantly lower in Han nationality than in Tibetan nationality (0.720％ (46/6 391) vs.2.200％ (14/637),P ＜ 0.001).Incidence of potentially dangerous coronary artery anomalies was also significantly lower in Han nationality than in Tibetan nationality (0.876％ (56/6 391) vs.2.041％ (13/637),P =0.004).(5)Ten kinds of coronary artery anomalies were found in this study.There were significant differences between Han and Tibetan nationality in left coronary artery originated from right coronary sinus(0.046％ (3/6 391) vs.0.471％ (3/637),P =0.012),in left circumflex branch originated from right coronary sinus (0.046％ (3/6 391) vs.0.471％ (3/637),P =0.012),and opening of right coronary artery in left coronary sinus or left anterior descending (0.704％ (45/6 391) vs.1.570％ (10/637),P =0.018).Conclusion The incidences of coronary artery anomalies and benign coronary artery anomalies were significantly lower in Han nationality residents than that of the in Tibetan nationality residents living in middle and high altitude.