Prognostic impact of follow-up pulmonary vascular resistance in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Issue 1 (8th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Suzuki, Sho; Asano, Ryotaro; Aoki, Tatsuo; Nakayama, Sayuri; Ueda, Jin; Tsuji, Akihiro; Noguchi, Teruo; Ogo, Takeshi
• Is Part Of: Open heart. Volume 9:Issue 1(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06-08
• Subjects: pulmonary arterial hypertension -- hypertension, pulmonary -- drug interactions; Cardiology -- Periodicals; Heart -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Heart -- Diseases -- Patients -- Periodicals; 616.12005
• DOI: 10.1136/openhrt-2022-002054
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2398-595X

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), caused by pulmonary artery remodelling and increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) due to an unknown mechanism, is an intractable disease with a poor prognosis. The recent development of PAH-specific treatment medications may allow for higher PVR reduction than previously achieved. This study aimed to identify the prognostic significance of follow-up PVR levels achieved shortly after the initiation of targeted treatment in patients with idiopathic/heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (I/H-PAH). Methods: We analysed the data of all patients with I/H-PAH admitted to our hospital between 1998 and 2019. We collected data at baseline and during the first invasive haemodynamic evaluation. The primary outcome was death or lung transplantation. Results: Of the 133 treatment-naïve patients enrolled in this study, 47 experienced adverse events during a median follow-up period of 6.4 (IQR 3.5–11.5) years. The median time interval to first follow-up from diagnosis was 162 (IQR 117–253) days. Incidence of the primary outcome was significantly lower in patients who achieved low PVR at follow-up. Of risk factors evaluated at follow-up, the multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed PVR as an independent predictor of the primary outcome (HR 1.103, 95% CI 1.029 to 1.183; p=0.006). The results were consistent across risk profiles according to the simplified risk stratification recommended by the European Society of Cardiology and European Respiratory Society guidelines. Conclusion: Follow-up PVR was an independent predictor of transplant-free survival in patients with I/H-PAH. Evaluation of haemodynamic status shortly after initiating treatment may help predict long-term prognosis.