Long-Term Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Disease Management Research Articles

High-risk echocardiographic features predict mortality in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Echocardiography is the most common imaging modality for assessment of the right ventricle in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Echocardiographic parameters were identified as independent risk factors for mortality in the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL) and other PAH cohorts. We sought to identify readily obtained echocardiographic features associated with PAH survival. Retrospective analysis of 175 patients with Group 1 was performed. Baseline clinical and laboratory assessment including REVEAL risk criteria were obtained and standard 2-Dimensional and Doppler echocardiography performed at baseline was reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses of echocardiographic parameters were performed. Estimated right atrial pressure> 15 mmHg (HR 2.39, P = .02), tricuspid regurgitation ≥ moderate (HR 2.16, P = .04), and presence of pericardial effusion (HR 1.8, P = .05) were identified as independent, high-risk echocardiographic features in PAH. A validation cohort of 677 patients was identified and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed in both cohorts. High-risk echocardiographic features stratified survival curves of both cohorts (P < .01 for all). The presence of 3 high-risk echocardiographic features greatly increased risk of 1-year (RR 4.86) and 3-year (RR 3.35) mortality (P < .05 for both). Estimated right atrial pressure> 15, tricuspid regurgitation ≥ moderate, and presence of pericardial effusion are high-risk echocardiographic features in PAH. When seen in combination, these features greatly increase risk of mortality in PAH and may lead to more timely enhanced therapy for patients identified as having an increased risk for death.

Plasma 12- and 15-hydroxyeicosanoids are predictors of survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

This study aimed to characterize alterations in select eicosanoids in experimental and human pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and to assess their potential utility as predictors of outcome. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we performed targeted lipidomic analyses of the lungs and right ventricles (RVs) of chronically hypoxic rats and plasma of consecutive PAH patients and healthy controls. In rat lungs, chronic hypoxia was associated with significantly decreased lung prostacyclin (PGI2)/thromboxane B2 (TXB2) ratio and elevated lung 8-hydroxyeicosanoid (HETE) acid concentrations. RV eicosanoids did not exhibit any changes with chronic hypoxia. PAH treatment-naïve patients had significantly increased plasma concentrations of TXB2 and 5-, 8-, 12-, and 15-HETE. The PGI2/TXB2 ratio was lower in PAH patients than in controls, especially in the treatment-naïve cohort (median: 2.1, 0.3, and 1.3 in controls, treatment-naïve, and treated patients, respectively, P = 0.001). Survival was significantly worse in PAH patients with 12-HETEhigh (≥57 pg/mL) and 15-HETEhigh (≥256 pg/mL) in unadjusted and adjusted analyses (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.8 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-7.3], P = 0.04 and HR: 4.3 [95% CI: 1.6-11.8], P = 0.004, respectively; adjustment was performed with the REVEAL [Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term PAH Disease Management] risk score). We demonstrate significant alterations in eicosanoid pathways in experimental and human PAH. We found that 12- and 15-HETE were independent predictors of survival in human PAH, even after adjusting for the REVEAL score, suggesting their potential role as novel biomarkers.

Letter by Nikpour et al Regarding Article, “Effect of Warfarin Treatment on Survival of Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) in the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL)”

We thank Nikpour et al for highlighting their observational, retrospective study, which suggested, in a multivariate analysis, that anticoagulation of at least 6 months was associated with improved survival in connective disease–associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).1 Their results, indeed, are contrary to our US-based (Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term PAH Disease Management [REVEAL]) and the EU-based (Comparative, Prospective Registry of Newly Initiated Therapies for Pulmonary Hypertension [COMPERA]) databases,2,3 both of which suggested lack of (or even possible harm with) anticoagulation in this high-risk population. Acknowledging that these analyses are limited by the lack of randomization, the study by Ngian et al also suffers from several flaws: lack of definition of survival analysis (start at entry in the …

Where do we go from here? Reappraising the data on anticoagulation in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The use of anticoagulation as part of the treatment regimen in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains a topic of debate. A recently published analysis of anticoagulation use in the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL) study offers conflicting conclusions regarding the benefit of this therapeutic strategy. There remains no robust randomized trial in PAH weighing the risks versus benefits of including anticoagulation in treatment regimens, leaving clinicians to surmise value in individual patients. Reexamination of available data may help to provide guidance on this controversial topic in the absence of future dedicated investigations.

Circulation : Clinical Summaries

<i>Circulation</i> : Clinical Summaries

Five-Year Outcomes of Patients Enrolled in the REVEAL Registry

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, severe disease characterized by worsening right-sided heart failure, decreasing functional status, and poor survival. The present study characterizes the 5-year survival in the United States of a new and previous diagnosis of PAH in patients stratified by baseline functional class (FC). The Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL Registry) is a 55-center observational US registry of the demographics, disease course, and management of patients with World Health Organization (WHO) group 1 PAH. The REVEAL Registry enrolled newly and previously diagnosed patients aged ≥ 3 months with WHO group 1 PAH consecutively from March 2006 to December 2009. Demographics, disease characteristics, and hemodynamic data were collected at enrollment. Survival analysis was conducted by FC and other subgroups in patients aged ≥ 18 years. Survival differences between previously diagnosed and newly diagnosed patients at 1 year (90.4% vs 86.3%) were maintained to 5 years; 5-year survival for previously diagnosed patients was 65.4% compared with 61.2% for newly diagnosed patients. Previously diagnosed patients in FC I, II, III, and IV had an estimated 5-year survival rate of 88.0%, 75.6%, 57.0%, and 27.2%, respectively, compared with 72.2%, 71.7%, 60.0%, and 43.8% for newly diagnosed patients in FC I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Patient survival of advanced PAH remains poor at 5 years despite treatment advances. New York Heart Association FC remains one of the most important predictors of future survival. These observations reinforce the importance of continuous monitoring of FC in patients with PAH. ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT00370214; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Right Heart Score for Predicting Outcome in Idiopathic, Familial, or Drug- and Toxin-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

ObjectivesThis study sought to determine whether a simple score combining indexes of right ventricular (RV) function and right atrial (RA) size would offer good discrimination of outcome in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). BackgroundIdentifying a simple score of outcome could simplify risk stratification of patients with PAH and potentially lead to improved tailored monitoring or therapy. MethodsWe recruited patients from both Stanford University (derivation cohort) and VU University Medical Center (validation cohort). The composite endpoint for the study was death or lung transplantation. A Cox proportional hazard with bootstrap CI adjustment model was used to determine independent correlates of death or transplantation. A predictive score was developed using the beta coefficients of the multivariable models. ResultsFor the derivation cohort (n = 95), the majority of patients were female (79%), average age was 43 ± 11 years, mean pulmonary arterial pressure was 54 ± 14 mm Hg, and pulmonary vascular resistance index was 25 ± 12 Wood units × m2. Over an average follow-up of 5 years, the composite endpoint occurred in 34 patients, including 26 deaths and 8 patients requiring lung transplant. On multivariable analysis, RV systolic dysfunction grade (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.4 per grade; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.0 to 7.8; p < 0.001), severe RA enlargement (HR: 3.0; 95% CI: 1.3 to 8.1; p = 0.009), and systemic blood pressure <110 mm Hg (HR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.5 to 9.4; p < 0.001) were independently associated with outcome. A right heart (RH) score constructed on the basis of these 3 parameters compared favorably with the National Institutes of Health survival equation (0.88; 95% CI: 0.79 to 0.94 vs. 0.60; 95% CI: 0.49 to 0.71; p < 0.001) but was not statistically different than the REVEAL (Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term PAH Disease Management) score c-statistic of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.69 to 0.88) with p = 0.097. In the validation cohort (n = 87), the RH score remained the strongest independent correlate of outcome. ConclusionsIn patients with prevalent PAH, a simple RH score may offer good discrimination of long-term outcome.

Echocardiographic Assessment of Estimated Right Atrial Pressure and Size Predicts Mortality in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Elevated mean right atrial pressure (RAP) measured by cardiac catheterization is an independent risk factor for mortality. Prior studies have demonstrated a modest correlation with invasive and noninvasive echocardiographic RAP, but the prognostic impact of estimated right atrial pressure (eRAP) has not been previously evaluated in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). A retrospective analysis of 121 consecutive patients with PAH based on right-sided heart catheterization and echocardiography was performed. The eRAP was calculated by inferior vena cava diameter and collapse using 2005 and 2010 American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) definitions. Accuracy and correlation of eRAP to RAP was assessed. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis by eRAP, right atrial area, and Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL Registry) risk criteria as well as univariate and multivariate analysis of echocardiographic findings was performed. Elevation of eRAP was associated with decreased survival time compared with lower eRAP (P < .001, relative risk = 7.94 for eRAP > 15 mm Hg vs eRAP ≤ 5 mm Hg). Univariate analysis of echocardiographic parameters including eRAP > 15 mm Hg, right atrial area > 18 cm², presence of pericardial effusion, right ventricular fractional area change < 35%, and at least moderate tricuspid regurgitation was predictive of poor survival. However, multivariate analysis revealed that eRAP > 15 mm Hg was the only echocardiographic risk factor that was predictive of mortality (hazard ratio = 2.28, P = .037). Elevation of eRAP by echocardiography at baseline assessment was strongly associated with increased risk of death or transplant in patients with PAH. This measurement may represent an important prognostic component in the comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation of PAH.

Characterization of First-Time Hospitalizations in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in the REVEAL Registry

BACKGROUND:Hospitalization is an important outcome in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), shown previously to correlate with survival. Using the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL Registry), we sought to characterize first-time hospitalizations and their effect on subsequent hospitalization and survival in patients with newly diagnosed disease.METHODS:Patients with newly diagnosed PAH (n = 862, World Health Organization group 1) were evaluated for first-time hospitalization. The hospitalizations were categorized as PAH related or PAH unrelated based on the case report form. Categories for PAH-related and PAH-unrelated hospitalization were defined before independent review. Patient demographics and disease characteristics are described as well as freedom from hospitalization and survival.RESULTS:Of 862 patients, 490 (56.8%) had one or more hospitalizations postenrollment: 257 (52.4%) PAH related, 214 (43.7%) PAH unrelated, and 19 (3.9%) of undetermined causes. The most common causes of PAH-related hospitalization were congestive heart failure and placement/removal of a central venous catheter. Patients with PAH-related hospitalizations were more likely to receive parenteral therapy, be in functional class III/IV, and have higher risk scores before hospitalization at enrollment. Following discharge, 25.4% ± 3.2% and 31.0% ± 4.0% of patients with PAH-related and PAH-unrelated first hospitalization, respectively, remained hospitalization-free for 3 years (P = .11). Survival estimates at 3 years postdischarge were 56.8% ± 3.5% and 67.8% ± 3.6% (P = .037) for patients with PAH-related and PAH-unrelated hospitalization, respectively.CONCLUSIONS:In the REVEAL Registry, PAH-related hospitalization was associated with relatively more rehospitalizations and worse survival at 3 years.TRIAL REGISTRY:ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT00370214; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov

Pharmacological management of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pharmacological management of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Four- and Seven-Year Outcomes of Patients With Congenital Heart Disease–Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (from the REVEAL Registry)

Uncorrected congenital heart disease (CHD) frequently leads to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), the most severe form of which is Eisenmenger syndrome (ES). We compared patients with idiopathic or heritable PAH (IPAH or HPAH; n = 1,626) against those with CHD-associated PAH (n = 353) who were enrolled in the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL Registry). Of patients with CHD-associated PAH, 151 had ES. Compared with the IPAH or HPAH cohort, the ES cohort had greater systemic blood flow (2 ± 1 vs 3 ± 2 L/min/m(2), p <0.001), lower mean right atrial pressure (10 ± 6 vs 7 ± 4 mm Hg, p <0.001), higher mean pulmonary artery pressure (53 ± 14 vs 65 ± 17 mm Hg, p <0.001), higher pulmonary vascular resistance index (22 ± 12 vs 32 ± 31 Wood units × m(2), p <0.001), and lower systemic arterial oxygen saturation at rest (92 ± 11% vs 84 ± 13%, p <0.001). At 4 years from enrollment and 7 years from diagnosis, survival rate was similar between IPAH or HPAH and CHD-associated PAH cohorts. For the overall CHD-associated PAH cohort, longer 6-minute walk distance, lower mean right atrial pressure, brain natriuretic peptide level <50 pg/ml, and the presence of acute vasoreactivity were predictors of survival at 4 years from enrollment; younger age and lower mean right atrial pressure were predictors of survival at 7 years from diagnosis. In conclusion, these observations support predicted physiologic differences (e.g., hemodynamics) between patients with IPAH or HPAH and patients with CHD-associated PAH, with or without a systemic-pulmonary shunt. These differences, however, did not translate into significantly improved 4- and 7-year survival rates in patients with ES versus IPAH or HPAH and CHD-associated PAH.

Systemic BP and Heart Rate as Prognostic Indicators in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Heart rate (HR) and systolic BP (SBP) are significant multivariate predictors of survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) as part of a 19-element formula. To what extent HR and BP alone predict survival and future hospitalization in patients with PAH is unknown. We analyzed data from the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL Registry), a prospective, observational study of patients with PAH. Patients were analyzed by quintile (Q) according to values of HR, SBP, and SBP/HR. Kaplan-Meier curves were calculated by Q for survival and freedom from hospitalization. For patients in the worst Q, 1-year survival after enrollment was 85% ± 2% for SBP, 86% ± 2% for HR, and 84% ± 2% for SBP/HR vs 91% ± 1% for the middle three Qs (P &lt; .001). Hospitalization occurred more frequently than mortality but with a similar pattern among Qs. One-year survival after first follow-up of patients in the worst Q for change (Δ) in SBP since enrollment was 85% ± 2% (P = .004), 86% ± 2% for ΔHR (P = .12), and 84% ± 2% for ΔSBP/HR (P = .024) vs the middle three Qs (ΔSBP: 91% ± 1%; ΔHR: 90% ± 1%; ΔSBP/HR: 90% ± 1%). Changes in vital signs from enrollment to first follow-up were less predictive of mortality than the values of vital-sign parameters at either enrollment or first follow-up. HR, SBP, and SBP/HR at enrollment identified high-risk groups with survival differences of 5% to 7% and freedom from hospitalization differences of 9% to 11% vs lower-risk groups. SBP/HR defines the highest-risk group, including most of the high-risk patients defined by HR and SBP separately. ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT00370214; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Outcomes in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been suggested to offer therapeutic benefit in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We conducted two analyses to explore the association between SSRI use and PAH outcomes using the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL Registry). First, new users (SSRI-naive patients who initiated treatment after enrollment, incident use analysis, n = 220) were matched (1:2) with non-SSRI users (nonusers, n = 440) by enrollment center, sex, date of most recent visit, age, and 6-min walk distance. Second, a cross-sectional design was used to compare nonusers (n = 2,463), high-affinity SSRI users (n = 430), and non-high-affinity SSRI users (n = 125) at enrollment. Mortality and a composite end point defined by events indicative of clinical worsening were evaluated. New users had a higher risk of death (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.74; 95% CI, 1.19-2.54; P = .004) and were less likely to be free from the composite end point 2 years after enrollment vs nonusers (25.7% vs 43.2%, respectively; P &lt; .001). Similarly, among prevalent SSRI users (patients with a history of SSRI use at enrollment), high-affinity SSRI users were less likely to be free from the composite end point vs nonusers (unadjusted HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.07-1.36; P = .003). In both analyses, differences in outcome were maintained after adjustment for clinical variables previously associated with PAH outcomes. In a large population of patients with PAH, incident SSRI use was associated with increased mortality and a greater risk of clinical worsening, although we could not adjust for all potential confounders.

Functional Class Improvement and 3-Year Survival Outcomes in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in the REVEAL Registry

New York Heart Association/World Health Organization functional class (FC) is associated with outcomes in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We assessed whether patients with PAH who improve from FC III to FC I/II have improved survival vs patients who remain at FC III or worsen to FC IV. Patients aged ≥ 19 years with FC III PAH from the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL Registry) (N = 982) were categorized as improved, unchanged, or worsened according to their change in FC from enrollment to first follow-up assessment within 1 year of enrollment. Kaplan-Meier estimates of 3-year survival from first follow-up and changes in 6-min walk distance (6MWD) from enrollment to first follow-up were determined. Subgroup analyses were conducted by cause (ie, idiopathic/familial, connective tissue disease [CTD], congenital heart disease) and time of diagnosis (ie, newly or previously diagnosed [diagnostic right-sided heart catheterization within or ≥3 months of enrollment, respectively]). Overall, 27% of patients improved FC. Survival was better in patients whose FC improved (84%±2%, n=263) vs those who remained unchanged (66%±2%, n=645) or worsened (29%±6%, n=74) (all P<.001). Survival was also better in patient subgroups whose FC improved vs those who remained unchanged (idiopathic/familial [P<.001], CTD-associated PAH [P=.009], whether newly [P=.004] or previously diagnosed [P<.001]). 6MWD improvements were greater in patients whose FC improved vs those who remained unchanged in the overall (P<.001) and CTD (P=.028) cohorts. Patients with PAH who improve from FC III to I/II, whether newly or previously diagnosed and regardless of PAH cause, have better survival vs patients who remain FC III. ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT00370214; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Comorbid Conditions and Outcomes in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Comorbidities can affect disease progression and/or response to treatment in various conditions. Comorbid conditions are prevalent in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH); however, their effect on patient outcomes remains unknown. We evaluated the effect on functional class (FC), 6-min walk test distance (6MWD), and survival of the seven most common, comorbid conditions at enrollment in patients with PAH from the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL Registry): hypertension, clinical depression, type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes), obesity, COPD, sleep apnea, and thyroid disease. Patients with COPD or diabetes had the shortest 6MWD at enrollment (304.5 and 304.6 m, respectively) vs other comorbidities. Adjusted linear regression for 6MWD at enrollment revealed significant reductions among patients who were hypertensive, obese, diabetic, or had COPD (P<.001). A larger proportion of patients who were obese or had COPD were FC III/IV vs FC I/II at enrollment (P<.001). There was a greater risk for death among patients with diabetes (hazard ratio [HR], 1.73; 95% CI, 1.40-2.13; P<.001) or COPD (HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.34-1.90; P<.001), but there was a reduced risk for death in patients who were obese (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.61-0.86; P<.001). Compared with other analyzed comorbidities in patients with PAH, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and COPD were associated with significantly worse 6MWD; obesity and COPD were associated with worse FC; and diabetes and COPD were associated with increased risk for death. Further investigation of the effects of treating these comorbidities in patients with PAH is warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov; Identifier: NCT00370214; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

The Estrogen Puzzle in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

> New Scientist: What do you think most about during the day? > > Stephen Hawking: Women. They are a complete mystery. > > —Stephen Hawking at 70 – exclusive interview at the New Scientist, Jan 4, 2012 The biology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is full of mysteries, and one of its longer-standing ones has also intrigued and inspired both scientists and artists throughout history: the female sex. Although affecting patients of all ages and both sexes, PAH preferentially affects young women, suggesting that the female sex is a risk factor for PAH. Even in heritable PAH associated with autosomal dominant mutations in the gene encoding the bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 (BMPR2), women after puberty are ≈2.5 times more likely to develop PAH than males.1 In idiopathic PAH the female/male ratio ranges from 1.7:1 or 1.9:1 to 4.1:1 in 3 published PAH registries (the National Institutes of Health registry in the 80s,2 the French registry,3 and the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL),4 respectively). On the other hand, the disease can be more severe in men. Female animals with PAH tend to have lower pulmonary artery pressures and better outcomes compared with males,5 and similarly, male PAH patients have higher mortality than females.6 The basis for this apparent paradox remains unknown. Article see p 1087 Estrogens exert their effects through both genomic effects, by activating their cytosolic or membrane-bound receptors, and nongenomic effects, by activating membrane G protein–coupled estrogen receptors. For example, via the nongenomic effects, estrogens promote the release of both prostacyclin and nitric oxide while, via the genomic effects, they decrease the expression of endothelin 1 under hypoxia, all promoting vasoconstriction in the pulmonary circulation.5 Yet, the pathology of PAH is driven not by vasoconstriction, but rather by a proproliferative and antiapoptotic diathesis throughout the pulmonary arterial wall. The main circulating estrogen in …

Towards prognostic biomarkers in pulmonary arterial hypertension

The most reliable way to assess the clinical impact of a therapeutic intervention in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is through its effect on well-defined clinical end-points, such as mortality. However, this standard is often impractical because of the long period and large number of patients required to reach these clinical end-points, and substitutes, such as the 6-min walking distance, are often used. Biomarkers may also be reliable substitutes for clinical end-points, and are called surrogate end-points when they meet such requirements. According to the US National Institutes of Health Biomarkers Definitions Working Group, a biomarker is “a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention” [1]. However, while this definition is used for drug discovery, another narrower definition is still commonly used: “disease-associated molecular changes in body tissue and fluids”, i.e. a biological marker [2]. Among the estimated 150,000 papers documenting thousands of biological markers, less than 100 biomarkers are routinely used in the clinic [2]. In the field of PAH, which is a rare disease, most biomarker studies examined less than 100 patients, and therefore lacked the statistical power needed to demonstrate a strong association between any biomarker and death. Registries such as the Registry to Evaluate Early And Long-term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL) [3] have the advantage of enabling the study of larger populations and, therefore, have much better statistical power. However, in most cases, registries are not designed to evaluate new biomarkers, as they do not reach the necessary quality of biological sampling with storage of samples in a biobank, and are often a mix of incident and prevalent patients. In addition, many studies have focused on just one biomarker, while there is increasing …

The fifth world symposium on pulmonary hypertension will REVEAL the impact of registries

One of the meanings of “reveal” is “to disclose through prophets”. In the world of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), REVEAL refers more modestly to the Registry to EValuate Early and Long-term PAH Disease Management [1–3]. In the current issue of the European Respiratory Review , two of the key contributors to this modern era registry have elegantly summarised their recent findings and future research plans [4]. The ability to identify and evaluate factors that affect survival in patients with PAH is of critical interest to clinicians. The first of several registries (Patient Registry for the Characterization of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension), supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, was initiated in 1981 [5, 6 …

Sex Differences in the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outcome of Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Enrolled in the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Disease Management

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a life-threatening disease that affects more women than men. The reasons for the female preponderance are unclear, and there are limited data available for men with PAH. Data from the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL Registry) were analyzed to explore sex differences among patients with PAH with regard to 2-year survival from enrollment and 5-year survival from time of diagnosis. The data set included 2,318 women and 651 men. More women had PAH associated with connective tissue disease (P < .001), and more men had portopulmonary hypertension (P < .001) and HIV-associated PAH (P < .001). More women had congenital heart disease-associated PAH (P = .017), thyroid disease (P < .001), and depression reported (P ≤ .001). At diagnosis, men had higher mean pulmonary artery pressure (53 ± 14 vs 51 ± 14.3 mm Hg; P = .013) and mean right atrial pressure (10 ± 6 vs 9 ± 6 mm Hg; P = .031). Women had better survival estimates for 2 years from enrollment and for 5 years from diagnosis. Stratifying by age showed that survival from enrollment was similar between men and women aged < 60 years at enrollment, whereas men aged ≥ 60 years have lower survival rates compared with women aged ≥ 60 years. Our findings highlight similarities and differences between men and women with PAH, raising questions for future exploration regarding the role of hormones and sex in causation and survival in PAH. ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT00370214; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

The REVEAL Registry Risk Score Calculator in Patients Newly Diagnosed With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

In pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), survival predictions can be important for optimization of therapeutic strategies. The present study aimed to validate a quantitative algorithm for predicting survival derived from the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL Registry) and develop a simplified calculator for everyday clinical use. Prospectively collected data from patients with newly diagnosed (< 3 months) World Health Organization group I pulmonary hypertension enrolled in the REVEAL Registry were used to validate a predictive algorithm for 1-year survival. Model calibration was evaluated by comparing algorithm-predicted survival with observed Kaplan-Meier estimates for the overall validation cohort and for five risk groups. Similarly, the risk discriminators for the simplified calculator were compared with those of the quantitative algorithm. The validation cohort comprised 504 individuals with mean ± SD 6-min walk distance 308 ± 128 m, and 61.5% were functional class III. The proportion of patients surviving 1 year fell within the range predicted by the model (95.1%, 91.5%, 84.6%, 76.3%, and 58.2%, respectively) among patients in the low (predicted survival ≥ 95%), average (90% to < 95%), moderate (85% to < 90%), high (70% to < 85%), and very high (< 70%) risk strata. Predicted and observed 1-year survival were similar across risk stratum, and the c-index indicated good discrimination for both the full equation (0.726) and the simplified risk calculator (0.724). The REVEAL Registry predictive algorithm and simplified risk score calculator are well calibrated and demonstrate good discriminatory ability in patients with newly or previously diagnosed PAH. ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT00370214; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.