Résumé : ABSTRACT BACKGROUND. Although transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is an excellent non-invasive screening test for pulmonary hypertension, the physiologic range of echo-Doppler derived pulmonary pressures remains not completely investigated. The aim of the present study was therefore to explore the full spectrum of pulmonary pressures and RV functional indexes by TTE in healthy subjects and to investigate clinical and echocardiographic correlates. METHODS. A random sample of 1480 healthy individuals (mean age 36.1 ± 15.5 years, range 20-80 - 905 males) underwent a comprehensive TTE. Pulmonary artery systolic (PASP) and mean pressure, and pulmonary vascular resistance were estimated by standard echo-Doppler formulas. In addition, RV diastolic (Doppler transtricuspid inflow measurements) and systolic indices (RV fractional area change, RV tissue Doppler (TD) peak systolic velocity, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion) were calculated. RESULTS. PASP and mean pulmonary artery pressure values were significantly higher in subjects > 50 years old and in those with a body mass index > 30 Kg/m2. In particular, a PASP > 40 mmHg was found in 118 subjects (8 %) of those > 50 years old and in 103 (7 %) of those with a BMI > 30 Kg/m2. No differences by age were registered in RV systolic indexes and in pulmonary vascular resistances. On multivariate analysis, in the overall study population, age, body mass index (BMI), mitral E/e' ratio and left ventricular stroke volume were the only independent predictors of PASP. CONCLUSIONS. This study delineates an estimate of pulmonary hemodynamics in a wide age range cohort of healthy subjects. Pulmonary pressures increased with age and BMI as expected.