Pulmonary Artery Diastolic Pressure Research Articles

Effect of pulmonary artery catheter balloon inflation on pulmonary hemodynamics.

Right heart catheterization (RHC), including a pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) determination, is necessary to categorize the hemodynamic type of pulmonary hypertension (PH). The potential hemodynamic implications of a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) balloon inflation in PH have not been formally tested. We assessed the hemodynamic impact of the PAC balloon inflation during RHC by measuring systolic, diastolic, and mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) in all patients, and cardiac output (CO) by thermodilution in a subgroup of patients. Hemodynamic measurements were obtained both with PAC balloon deflated and fully inflated (1.5 mL of air), while the PAC was free floating in the pulmonary artery before wedging. We calculated total pulmonary resistance (TPR). We included 210 patients, age 58±14 years, 134 (64%) women. Patients had no PH (n: 12, 6%), PH group 1 (n: 68, 33%), 2 (n: 86, 41%), 3 (n: 11, 5%), 4 (n: 29, 14%), and 5 (n: 3, 1%). The mean ± standard deviation (SD) at end-expiration mPAP (balloon-up minus down) (n: 209) was -0.02±1.59 mmHg (range, -5.0 to 4.0 mmHg; P=0.84), while the TPR (n: 62) was -0.27±1.2 Wood units (WU) (range, -4.8 to 2.2 WU; P=0.08); without significant variation based on the type of PH group or degree of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Interestingly, the change in mPAP at end-expiration with PAC balloon inflation was higher in women (mean ± SD: 0.31±1.43 mmHg) than men (mean ± SD: -0.61±1.70 mmHg) (P<0.001). Balloon inflation of the PAC in the main pulmonary artery had no significant impact on the mPAP or TPR, even when only including patients with group 1 PH or selecting a subgroup with a higher PVR.

Diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart disease. Part 2. Echocardiography

The calculated systolic, diastolic and mean pulmonary artery pressure, the ratio of the sizes of the right and left ventricles of the heart, the eccentricity index of the left ventricle, systolic excursion of the fibrous ring of the tricuspid valve, systolic movement of the myocardium at the level of the fibrous ring of the tricuspid valve and the area of the right atrium are the main echocardiographic indicators for assessing idiopathic and similar forms of pulmonary hypertension according to the current Russian, Eurasian and European guidelines for pulmonary hypertension in children and adults, as well as the recommendations of the 6th World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension. The article explores the possibilities and limitations of modern echocardiography in the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart defects.

Evaluation of common clinical and hemodynamic parameters to pulmonary capillary wedge pressures in patients undergoing right heart catheterization.

A cornerstone of heart failure assessment is the right heart catheterization and the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure measurement it can provide. Clinical and hemodynamic parameters such as weight and jugular venous distention are less invasive measures often used to diagnose, manage, and treat these patients. To date, there is little data looking at the association of these key parameters to measured pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP). This is a large, retrospective, secondary analysis of a right heart catheterization database comparing clinical and hemodynamic parameters against measured PCWP in heart failure patients. A total of 538 subjects were included in this secondary analysis. Spearman's Rho analysis of each clinical and hemodynamic variable was used to compare their association to the documented PCWP. Variables analyzed included weight, body mass index (BMI), jugular venous distention (JVD), creatinine, edema grade, right atrial pressure (RAP), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), systemic vascular resistance, pulmonary vascular resistance, cardiac output (thermal and Fick), systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation (SpO2), and pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PADP). Ten out of 17 selected parameters had a statistically significant association with measured PCWP values. PADP had the strongest association (0.73, p<0.0001), followed by RAP and PASP (0.69, p<0.0001 and 0.67, p<0.0001, respectively). Other significant parameters included weight (0.2, p<0.001), BMI (0.2, p<0.001), SpO2 (-0.17, p<0.0091), JVD (0.24, p<0.005) and edema grade (0.2, p<0.0001). This retrospective analysis clarifies the associations of commonly used clinical and hemodynamic parameters to the clinically used gold standard for volume assessment in heart failure patients, PCWP.

The prognostic significance of the discordance between right- and left-side filling pressures in advanced heart failure: Data from the right heart catheterization registry of rajaie heart center (RHC-RHC Registry)

Introduction: The prognostic significance of filling pressures and the relationship between left and right heart filling pressures have been well characterized in patients with heart failure. In the present study, we sought to evaluate the prevalence of discordance between left- and right-sided filling pressures and their relationship with clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and outcome measures (mortality and heart transplantation) in patients who were registered in right heart catheterization registry of Rajaie Heart Center (RHC-RHC registry). Methods: The hospital information system was queried for all adult patients with diagnosis of chronic heart failure who had undergone right heart catheterization between July 2009 and July 2019 in heart failure and transplantation department. The following variables were measured for each patient: mean right atrial pressure; systolic and end-diastolic right ventricular pressures; systolic, diastolic, and mean pulmonary artery pressure; pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP); mixed venous oxygen saturation; and cardiac output and cardiac index by Fick technique. The RAP/PCWP ratio was also calculated. The outcome of interest was all-cause mortality and heart transplantation after the index right heart catheterization. All of the patients were monitored for all-cause mortality or heart transplantation until July 2020. Results: Among 1941 patients, a total of 1078 patients (75% male) were selected. The mean (standard deviation) of age was 42.7 (15.7) years. Heart failure reduced ejection fraction (HFREF) was found in the majority of patients (85.1%), with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and ischemic cardiomyopathy being the most frequent etiologies. The concordance between right and left filling pressures is more noticeable in patients with HFREF and heart failure mildly reduced EF than in patients with heart failure preserved EF (HFPEF). The median (interquartile range) of follow-up duration was 24 (6–48) months. During the follow-up time, 676 (62.7%) patients met the study outcomes of interest within <5 days to 96 months following the index RHC. Conclusion: The results of this study show that right and left filling pressure may be discordant in up to one-third of patients with advanced heart failure. However, the right and left heart-filling pressures would be more concordance as the disease is more advanced.

70 Estimation of pulmonary arterial pressures by tricuspid regurgitation: a comparison with invasive data

Abstract Aims The evaluation of the haemodynamic of pulmonary circulation is essential in various pathological conditions. Right heart catheterization (RHC) is the gold standard for the measurement of pressures and resistances in this context. However, since indications for RHC are limited, a more accessible estimation method would be helpful. This study aimed to explore the reliability of an echocardiographic method based on tricuspid regurgitation (TR) to estimate mean, systolic and diastolic pulmonary arterial (PA) pressures in a cohort of patients with advanced heart failure considered for heart transplantation. Methods and results All consecutive patients with advanced heart failure considered for heart transplantation from 2016 to 2021 that had already performed right heart catheterization (RHC) as part of the workup and with an available echocardiographic exam were included (n = 91). Mean PA pressure was obtained adding mean right ventricular-right atrial (RV-RA) gradient to mean RA pressure. Systolic PA pressure was obtained adding maximum RV-RA gradient to mean RA pressure. Diastolic PA pressure was derived from mean and systolic PA pressures. Results were compared with PA pressures by RHC. Median time between RHC and echocardiography was 0 months [interquartile range (IQR): 0–3.5]. Median age was 58 years (IQR: 52–61.5), most of the patients were men (83.5%). The absolute mean difference between mean, systolic and diastolic PA pressures by RHC and echocardiography was 0.46 ±9.78 mmHg, 2.18 ±12.92 mmHg and −2.30 ±8.61 mmHg, respectively. PA pressures by echocardiography significantly correlated with PA pressures by RHC (mean PA pressure: r = 0.460, P &amp;lt; 0.001; systolic PA pressure: r = 0.520, P &amp;lt; 0.001; diastolic PA pressure: r = 0.372, P &amp;lt; 0.001). AUC for prediction of pulmonary hypertension, defined as mean PA &amp;gt; 25 mmHg, by mean PA pressure by echocardiography was 0.828 and a cut-off of 25.5 mmHg demonstrated a high specificity (sensibility 66.7%, specificity 93.2%). Conclusions Estimation of pulmonary arterial pressures through an echocardiographic method mainly based on tricuspid regurgitation gradients is reliable and an estimated mean pulmonary arterial pressure &amp;gt;25.5 mmHg has a high specificity for predicting pulmonary hypertension.

An Acute Hyperoxia Test Predicts Survival in Children with Pulmonary Hypertension Living at High Altitude

Diaz, Gabriel F., Alicia Marquez, Ariel Ruiz-Parra, Maurice Beghetti, and Dunbar Ivy. An acute hyperoxia test predicts survival in children with pulmonary hypertension living at high altitude. High Alt Med Biol. 22:395–405, 2021.Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) causes significant morbidity and mortality in children at altitude.Materials and Methods: Fifty-two children living at 2,640 m were included. During hyperoxia test (O2Test), patients received high oxygen concentrations (FiO2 >80, through Mask, using Venturi or nonrebreathing mask); echocardiography was used to evaluate pulmonary vasculature reactivity. A decrease >20% from the basal pulmonary artery systolic pressure was considered a positive response.Results: Most of the patients had severe PH. The median age at diagnosis was 4.5 years; 34 were female (65.4%). Idiopathic PH was present in 44 patients (84.6%). Six developed severe PH after ductus closure. They were classified in responders (n = 25), and nonresponders (n = 26). Responders were younger (3 years vs. 7 years, p = 0.02), and 22 (88%), had better functional class (FC) 1–2, than nonresponders: 18 (69.23%) of them had worse FC: 3–4 (p = 0.000). In responders, 10/12 who went to live at low altitude became asymptomatic, compared with 7/13 who remained at high altitude. FC 1–2 was achieved by 70% of the patients with idiopathic PH who went to a low altitude, compared with 30% who continued at high altitude (p = 0.03). In nonresponders, 10/26 patients moved to a low altitude: four improved, one worsened, and five died; of the 16/26 patients living at high altitude, four are stable, eight worsened, and four died. Four patients (30.76%) in responder group and nine (69.24%) in the nonresponder group died (p = 0.03). There were differences between both groups in systolic (88 mm Hg vs. 110 mm Hg; p = 0.037), diastolic (37 mm Hg vs. 56 mm Hg; p = 0.035), and mean pulmonary artery pressures (57 mm Hg vs. 88 mm Hg; p = 0.038).Conclusions: This specific hyperoxia test applied until 24 hours (not published before) helps to predict survival and prognosis of children with PH. Children with PH at a high altitude improve at low altitude.

Transcatheter radiofrequency pulmonary artery denervation in swine: the evaluation of lesion degree, hemodynamics and pulmonary hypertension inducibility

BackgroundMechanisms of positive effects of pulmonary artery (PA) denervation (PADN) remain poorly understood. The study aimed to evaluate pulmonary hemodynamic changes after PADN and their association with the extent of PA wall damage in an acute thromboxane A2 (TXA2)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) model in swine.MethodsIn this experimental sham-controlled study, 17 normotensive male white Landrace pigs (the mean weight 36.2 ± 4.5 kg) were included and randomly assigned to group I (n = 9)—PH modeling before and after PADN, group II (n = 4)—PADN only, or group III (n = 4)—PH modeling before and after a sham procedure. Radiofrequency (RF) PADN was performed in the PA trunk and at the proximal parts of the right and left PAs. PA wall lesions were characterized at the autopsy study using histological and the immunohistochemical examination.ResultsIn groups I and II, no statistically significant changes in the mean pulmonary arterial pressure nor systemic blood pressure were found after PADN (−0.8 ± 3.4 vs 4.3 ± 8.6 mmHg, P = 0.47; and 6.0 ± 15.9 vs -8.3 ± 7.5 mmHg, P = 0.1; correspondingly). There was a trend towards a lower diastolic pulmonary arterial pressure after PADN in group I when compared with group III during repeat PH induction (34.4 ± 2.9 vs 38.0 ± 0.8; P = 0.06). Despite the presence of severe PA wall damage at the RF application sites, S100 expression was preserved in the majority of PA specimens. The presence of high-grade PA lesions was associated with HR acceleration after PADN (ρ = 0.68, p = 0.03). No significant correlation was found between the grade of PA lesion severity and PA pressure after PADN with or without PH induction.ConclusionsExtended PADN does not affect PH induction using TXA2. Significant PA adventitia damage is associated with HR acceleration after PADN. Possible delayed effects of PADN on perivascular nerves and pulmonary hemodynamics require further research in chronic experiments.

Plasma metabolomics in the perioperative period of defect repair in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease.

The quality of life and survival rates of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease (CHD-PAH) have been greatly improved by defect-repair surgery and personalized treatments. However, those who survive surgery may remain at risk of persistent PAH, the prognosis may be considerably worse than those unoperated. Dynamic monitoring of clinical measures during the perioperative period of shunt correction is therefore indispensable and of great value. In this study, we explored the plasma-metabolite profiling in 13 patients with CHD-PAH during the perioperative period of defect repair. Plasma was harvested at four time points: prior to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) after anesthesia (Pre), immediately after CPB (T0), 24 h (T24), and 48 h (T48) after defect repair. Untargeted metabolomics strategy based on UPLC Q-TOF MS was used to detect the metabolites. A total of 193 distinguishing metabolites were determined at different time points, enriched in pathways such as oxidation of branched-chain fatty acids. We found that 17 metabolite alterations were significantly correlated with the reduction in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) at T48 versus Pre. Gradients in diastolic pulmonary arterial pressure (DPAP), bicarbonate in radial artery (aHCO3), bicarbonate in superior vena cava (svcHCO3), and the partial pressure of dissolved CO2 gas in radial artery (aPCO2) were positively correlated with MPAP gradient. Notably, these clinical-measure gradients were correlated with alterations in shunt-correction-associated metabolites. In total, 12 out of 17 identified metabolites in response to defect repair were increased at both T24 and T48 (all P < 0.05, except propionylcarnitine with P < 0.05 at T24). In contrast, galactinol dihydrate, guanosine monophosphate, and hydroxyphenylacetylglycine tended to decline at T24 and T48 (only galactinol dihydrate with P < 0.05 at T48). In conclusion, 17 metabolites that respond to shunt correction could be used as suitable noninvasive markers, and clinical measures, including DPAP, aHCO3, svcHCO3, and aPCO2, would be of great value in disease monitoring and evaluating future therapeutic interventions.

Abstract 12994: Invasive Left Atrial Pressure Monitoring and Survival on Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Cardiogenic Shock

Introduction: Elevated left atrial pressures (LAP) are associated with worse outcomes among patients with cardiogenic shock (CS), yet there are limited data on the utility of continuous invasive monitoring of LAPs on outcomes for CS. This is additionally true among refractory CS patients on peripheral VA ECMO, which itself can increase arterial afterload. Hypothesis: Our objective was to determine whether invasive LAP monitoring impacts survival for patients with refractory CS after 24 hours of VA ECMO support. Methods: We performed a cohort analysis among 10,906 patients ≥18yrs of age from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry from 2015 - 2020, with refractory CS treated with VA ECMO. The presence of invasive LAP monitoring was defined as either pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) or pulmonary arterial diastolic pressure (PAD) values at 24 hours on VA ECMO. The exposure was measurement of LAPs at 24 hours on VA ECMO support, and the primary outcome was 30 day survival. We performed Kaplan Meier survival analysis, adjusting for age, PaO2/FiO2, pH, SCAI classification stage prior to ECMO, presence of a pre-ECMO cardiac arrest, mean arterial blood pressure on ECMO and year. Results: Median age of patients was 57 [IQR,46; 65] years with 31% females. Thirty two percent (n=3,465) presented with acute myocardial infarction, 29% (n=3,112) with acute heart failure and 1% (n=965) with both etiologies. Invasive LAP monitoring at 24 hours was performed in 33% (n=3608) of patients. The use of invasive LAP was associated with lower mortality (adjusted Hazard Ratio 0.88 [95% CI 0.81 to 0.95]; p=0.002). Conclusions: Implementation of invasive LAP monitoring may be associated with higher adjusted hospital survival in patients with refractory CS requiring VA-ECMO support. These findings merit further investigation and prospective validation to assess the relationship between invasive hemodynamic monitoring and outcomes in this patient population.

Abstract 14041: The Association of Left Heart Pressures and Survival After Starting Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Cardiogenic Shock

Introduction: Despite the ability to provide full hemodynamic support in patients with refractory cardiogenic shock (CS), a potential limitation is elevated intracardiac filling pressures from increased left ventricular afterload. There is a paucity of data regarding the correlation of left atrial pressures (LAP) with outcomes. Hypothesis: Our objective was to determine association between LAP and survival for patients with refractory CS after 24 hours of VA ECMO support. Methods: Cohort analysis among 10,906 patients ≥18yrs from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry (2015 - 2020), with refractory CS on VA ECMO. LAP values were defined as pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) or pulmonary arterial diastolic pressure (PAD) values if PCWP was missing. The exposure was LAP values at 24 hours on VA ECMO support. Our primary outcome was survival to discharge. We used multivariate regression, adjusted for age, and the following pre-ECMO variables: PaO2/FiO2, pH, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and SCAI classification; and the following variables after 24 hours of support: pH, MAP; and year. Results: Median age was 57 [IQR,46; 65] years old and 31% were females. Thirty two percent (n=3,465) presented with acute myocardial infarction, 29% (n=3,112) with acute heart failure and 1% (n=965) with both etiologies. Invasive hemodynamic monitoring was measured in 33% (n=3608) of patients. Median LAP was 18mmHg [IQR,14; 23]. Every 1 mm Hg incremental of LAP on support was associated with lower survival (aOR 0.97 [95% CI 0.95 to 0.98]; p&lt;0.001), and 30% increase in duration of VA-ECMO support (beta-coeff 1.37 [95% CI 0.42 to 2.3]; p=0.005). Conclusions: Reduced LAP may be associated with higher adjusted hospital survival in patients with refractory CS on VA-ECMO. These findings merit further investigation and prospective validation to assess the relationship between hemodynamically tailored management and outcomes in this patient population.

Abstract 13543: Impaired Stroke Volume Response During Exercise in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF): The Role of Dynamic Starling Mechanisms

Introduction: Impaired stroke volume (SV) response during exercise is common in HFpEF. The regulation of SV during low intensity exercise is dependent on end-diastolic volume (EDV) reserve from a compliant left ventricle (LV). The Dynamic Starling Mechanism (DSM) quantifies beat-by-beat modulation of SV by respiratory-mediated changes in LV filling pressure and provides insight into the relationship between changes in LV compliance and SV response during exercise. We hypothesized low SV reserve during exercise would track with greater impairments in DSM gain in HFpEF patients. Methods: 11 HFpEF patients (68 ± 6 years; 7 females) were studied at rest and during 20 Watts of upright cycling and separated into higher or lower SV reserve (direct Fick) groups based on median SV response (&gt; vs ≤ 20% increase). DSM was quantified by transfer function (input/output frequency) analyses of beat-by-beat changes in pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PAD, right heart catheterization) and SV (modelflow from radial arterial line waveform). Due to the small group size, magnitude of differences (i.e. effect size) between conditions and groups is assessed via Hedges’ g . Results: HFpEF patients with low SV reserve had blunted increases in SV compared to higher SV group patients (Δ 2 vs 31 ml, g = -2.0; Table). Compared to higher SV reserve, the lower SV reserve group exhibited a moderately greater increase in the power spectral density (PSD) of PAD ( g = 0.4) and decrease in PSD-SV ( g = 0.5) from rest to 20W. While both groups decreased DSM gain from rest to exercise, the lower SV reserve group had a greater decline (Δ -1.37 vs -0.61 ml/mmHg, g = -1.2). Conclusion: Lower SV reserve in patients with HFpEF is associated with impaired DSM gain during exercise. The lower gain was a function of increases in PAD PSD and decreases in SV PSD suggesting lower LV compliance and lower EDV reserve during exercise. Impaired DSM may explain low SV response and contribute to exercise limitations in patients with HFpEF.

Abstract 13861: Cardiac Predictors of Outcomes in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Introduction: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has significant anatomical, functional, and hemodynamic effects on the right heart. Yet, the prognostic value of these changes remains unclear. Methods: From the Cleveland Clinic Pulmonary Hypertension Registry, we included patients diagnosed with PAH between 2007-2013 who had right heart cath (RHC), transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), and cardiac computed tomography (CCT) within six months of each other. Right-sided ventricular and valvular anatomy and function were thoroughly assessed with CCT and TTE, while hemodynamics were determined by RHC. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality and hospitalization for PAH. The mean follow-up was 45 (+/- 42.4) months. Results: A total of 88 patients were included (mean age 55, 79% female). Among CCT, TTE, and RHC variables, RV diastolic pressure was the sole predictor of the primary outcome on multivariable analysis (HR 2.43, p=0.001) (Figure 1). When considering each outcome separately, central venous pressure and RV diastolic pressure were both predictive of death (HR 2.27, p=0.045 and 2.18, p=0.03 respectively), whereas RV diastolic pressure and pulmonary arterial mean pressure were predictors of hospitalization (HR 2.18, p=0.038 and 2.19, p=0.035 respectively) (Table 1). Tricuspid annular anatomy by CCT, and tricuspid regurgitation and RV size and function by TTE were not significantly associated with clinical outcomes. Conclusions: Right heart hemodynamics predict clinical outcomes in patients with PAH, while anatomic and functional characteristics do not.

Pulmonary artery capacitance a simple and novel prognostic variable in acute pulmonary embolism

Abstract Background The non-invasive calculation of right ventricular hemodynamics such as the pulmonary artery capacitance (PAC) has proven to be feasible and easy to perform. The simplified pulmonary embolism severity index (sPESI) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) are other prognostic tools that have been used in the past. Purpose To evaluate if baseline PAC can outperform PVR and sPESI to predict all-cause short-term mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods 373 patients with acute PE and a transthoracic echocardiogram performed within one day of diagnosis from March 2013 through June 2020 were followed prospectively. PAC was calculated as: Left ventricular stroke volume/ (Pulmonary artery systolic pressure – Pulmonary artery diastolic pressure). PVR was calculated as: Tricuspid regurgitant velocity / Right ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral x 10 + 0.16. The sPESI was used to evaluate prognosis by categorizing patients into low and high-risk categories. Multiple logistic regression analyses and receiver-operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the ability of PAC, PVR, and sPESI to predict all-cause mortality up to six months. The Youden index was used to determine the cut-off value with the highest sensitivity and specificity. Kaplan–Meier curves were performed to determine event-free survival rate, differences between groups were assessed using the Wilcoxon Test. Results Mean age was 64±15 years (58% male, 28% cancer). PAC was associated with mortality at thirty days (p 0.0003), three months (p 0.003), and six months (p 0.011) (Table). PVR was associated with mortality at thirty days, three months, and six months (p 0.045, 0.012, and 0.031 respectively). The sPESI score ≥1 (high risk) was associated with all-cause mortality at three months and six months (p 0.0136 and &amp;lt;0.0001 respectively). PAC was the strongest predictor of all-cause mortality with an AUC of 0.95 (CI 0.82- 0.99) at thirty days, 0.84 (CI 0.65–0.99) at three months, and 0.77 (CI 0.57–0.96) for six months. Corresponding Kaplan-Meier survival curve of PAC and thirty days all-cause mortality is presented in the Figure. PVR had an AUC of 0.75 (CI 0.48–0.95) at thirty days, 0.79 (CI 0.58–0.94) at three months, and 0.72 (CI 0.50–0.90) at six months. The sPESI had an AUC of 0.62 (CI 0.54–0.66) at three months and 0.64 (CI 0.59–0.67) at six months. Conclusion In patients with acute PE, PAC outperforms sPESI and PVR as a predictor of short-term all-cause mortality at thirty days, three months, and six months. These three variables should be explored head to head prospectively for their utility to predict short term all-cause mortality. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Increased serum PCSK9 in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension: insights from inflammatory cytokines.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is an important and major player in the pathophysiology of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. Recently, PCSK9 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. Whether PCSK9 is involved in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between PCSK9 and IPAH. Serum PCSK9, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 β (IL-1β), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed among 40 IPAH patients and 20 control subjects. Hemodynamic data were collected via right heart catheterization in patients with IPAH. Serum PCSK9, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and MCP-1 levels were significantly higher in IPAH patients than in control subjects (p < 0.001). Among enrolled IPAH patients, PCSK9 levels were higher in WHO-FC III/IV patients compared with those in WHO-FC I/II (p < 0.05), and were positively correlated with TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1, N-Terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (r = 0.653, p < 0.001), pulmonary arterial diastolic pressure (r = 0.466, p = 0.002), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP, r = 0.730, <0.001), pulmonary vascular resistance (r = 0.488, p = 0.001), and right ventricle diameter (r = 0.563, p < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, mPAP was strongly associated with serum PCSK9 (β = 0.694, p < 0.001), independent of other variables. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed the optimal cutoff value of serum PCSK9 concentration for predicting IPAH was 90.67 ng/ml, with a sensitivity of 90.0% and a specificity of 85.0%. In conclusion, IPAH patients had elevated serum PCSK9 levels which correlated the presence and severity of pulmonary hypertension. PCSK9 may be a novel potential therapeutic target.

Comparison of echocardiographic parameters during long and short interdialytic intervals in hemodialysis patients

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in patients receiving haemodialysis (HD). Most HD patients follow the typical schedule of three sessions per week, and thus remain outside dialysis for two short intervals (∼ 2 days in duration) and for a longer interval (∼3 days) at the end of each week. There is a link between the long interdialytic interval and worsened cardiovascular outcomes but few studies have examined the underlying mechanisms Objective To compare changes in echocardiographic parameters during the 2- day (short) and 3day (long) interdialytic intervals of prevalent HD patients. Patients and Methods The study involved 30 stable prevalent HD patients on thrice weekly regimen. Echocardiography was done before and after the short and long interdialytic interval to study left and right ventricle functions and inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter. Patients ages ranged between 28 and 75 years with mean age of 56.23±12.31 years (43.4% females and 56.7% males) Results Comparison of echocardiographic measurements was done before and after dialysis between the short (2-days) and long (3-day) interdialytic interval groups (Group 1 Vs Group 2). There were no statistically significant differences between left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic dimensions, septum affection, ejection fraction, or pulmonary artery pressure. There were statistically highly significant differences among left pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), IVC diameter and interdialytic weight change after dialysis session between the short and the long interdialytic interval patients' groups. The intradialytic weight gain (2.45 ± 1.13 vs 1.19 ± 0.78 kg), IVC diameter (11 ± 2.98 vs 9.62 ± 2.32) and PCWP (11.13 ± 2.3 vs 10.13 ± 1.55) increase were higher during the 3-day versus the 2-day interval (P &amp;lt; 0.001) . Conclusion IVC, PCWP and intradialytic weight increase was higher during the 3-day versus the 2-day interval in post dialysis comparison. IVC, PCWP and intradialytic weight gain reflect degree of volume overload and their increase especially after interdialytic interval call for need to evaluate timing and frequency of prescribed HD regimens for some HD patients.

Improvement in Metabolic Co-Morbidities after Implantation of CardioMEMS in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction Phenotype.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients often have other comorbidities, including obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes, comprising the metabolic syndrome. The impacts of hemodynamic monitoring via CardioMEMS on these co-morbidities remain unknown. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 29 patients with HFpEF (EF 45% or greater) and CardioMEMS was performed at a single center. Weight, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressures (SBP), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TGL), hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), and pulmonary artery diastolic pressures (PADP) were assessed at baseline and six months post-implant. Paired t-tests and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used, as appropriate, to test differences between time points. Results: These patients were 69% female, with a mean age of 73 years, and 62% had non-ischaemic cardiomyopathies (NICM). At the time of CardioMEMS implantation, average PADP was 20.1 mmHg ± 5.7, weight was 102.6 kg ± 22.7, BMI was 38.0 kg/m2 ± 8.3, SBP was 135 mmHg ± 19, HDL was 42.4 mg/dL ± 11.3, and median TGL was 130 mg/dL (100, 180). At six months we witnessed a decrease by 20.9% in PADP to 15.9 mmHg ± 5.8, (p < 0.001). In addition, the following was noted: weight decreased by 2.5% to 100.0 kg ± 23.2, (p = 0.006), BMI reduced by 2.6% to 37.0 ± 8.2, (p = 0.002), SBP decreased by 6.7% to 126 mmHg ± 16 (p < 0.001), HDL increased by 10.8% to 47 mg/dL ± 11.9 (p < 0.001), and TGL decreased by 15.4% to 110 mg/dL (105, 135) (p = 0.001). 62% of patients were diabetic with no significant improvements in HbA1C values at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusion: The utilization of CardioMEMS to optimize PADP results in an improvement in the comorbidities associated with the metabolic syndrome. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings and delineate clinical significance.

Noninvasive Venous Waveform Analysis Correlates With Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure and Predicts 30-Day Admission in Patients With Heart Failure Undergoing Right Heart Catheterization

Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization in the elderly and readmission is common. Clinical indicators of congestion may not precede acute congestion with enough time to prevent hospital admission for heart failure. Thus, there is a large and unmet need for accurate, noninvasive assessment of congestion. Noninvasive venous waveform analysis in heart failure (NIVAHF) is a novel, noninvasive technology that monitors intravascular volume status and hemodynamic congestion. The objective of this study was to determine the correlation of NIVAHF with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and the ability of NIVAHF to predict 30-day admission after right heart catheterization. The prototype NIVAHF device was compared with the PCWP in 106 patients undergoing right heart catheterization. The NIVAHF algorithm was developed and trained to estimate the PCWP. NIVA scores and central hemodynamic parameters (PCWP, pulmonary artery diastolic pressure, and cardiac output) were evaluated in 84 patients undergoing outpatient right heart catheterization. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine whether a NIVA score predicted 30-day hospital admission. The NIVA score demonstrated a positive correlation with PCWP (r = 0.92, n = 106, P < .0001). The NIVA score at the time of hospital discharge predicted 30-day admission with an AUC of 0.84, a NIVA score of more than 18 predicted admission with a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 56%. Residual analysis suggested that no single patient demographic confounded the predictive accuracy of the NIVA score. The NIVAHF score is a noninvasive monitoring technology that is designed to provide an estimate of PCWP. A NIVA score of more than 18 indicated an increased risk for 30-day hospital admission. This noninvasive measurement has the potential for guiding decongestive therapy and the prevention of hospital admission in patients with heart failure.

Correlation of Pulse Wave Transit Time with Pulmonary Artery Pressure in a Porcine Model of Pulmonary Hypertension.

For the non-invasive assessment of pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), surrogates like pulse wave transit time (PWTT) have been proposed. The aim of this study was to invasively validate for which kind of PAP (systolic, mean, or diastolic) PWTT is the best surrogate parameter. To assess both PWTT and PAP in six healthy pigs, two pulmonary artery Mikro-Tip™ catheters were inserted into the pulmonary vasculature at a fixed distance: one in the pulmonary artery trunk, and a second one in a distal segment of the pulmonary artery. PAP was raised using the thromboxane A2 analogue U46619 (TXA) and by hypoxic vasoconstriction. There was a negative linear correlation between PWTT and systolic PAP (r = 0.742), mean PAP (r = 0.712) and diastolic PAP (r = 0.609) under TXA. During hypoxic vasoconstriction, the correlation coefficients for systolic, mean, and diastolic PAP were consistently higher than for TXA-induced pulmonary hypertension (r = 0.809, 0.778 and 0.734, respectively). Estimation of sPAP, mPAP, and dPAP using PWTT is feasible, nevertheless slightly better correlation coefficients were detected for sPAP compared to dPAP. In this study we establish the physiological basis for future methods to obtain PAP by non-invasively measured PWTT.

Pulmonary Artery Pressure Monitoring Effectively Guides Management to Reduce Heart Failure Hospitalizations in Obesity

ObjectivesThis study sought to determine the impact of therapy guided by pulmonary artery (PA) pressure monitoring in patients with heart failure (HF) and obesity. BackgroundObesity is prevalent in HF and associated with volume retention, but it complicates clinical assessment of congestion. MethodsThe CardioMEMS Post Approval Study was a prospective, multicenter, open-label trial in 1,200 patients with New York Heart Association functional class III HF and prior HF hospitalization (HFH) within 12 months. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) >35 kg/m2 were required to have a chest circumference <65 inches. Therapy was guided by PA pressure monitoring at sites, and HFHs were adjudicated 1 year before implantation and throughout follow-up. This analysis stratified patients according to ejection fraction (EF) <40% or ≥40% and by BMI <35 kg/m2 or ≥35 kg/m2. ResultsBaseline PA diastolic pressure was higher in patients with BMI ≥35 kg/m2 regardless of EF, but all PA pressures were reduced at 12 months in each cohort (P < 0.0001). HFH rate was reduced by >50% in both cohorts for EF <40% (BMI <35 kg/m2 [HR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.41-0.55] and ≥35 kg/m2 [HR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.31-0.53]) and EF ≥40% (BMI <35 kg/m2 [HR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.35-0.52] and ≥35 kg/m2 [HR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.25-0.45]; P < 0.0001). There was a nonsignificant trend toward greater reduction with more obesity. The all-cause hospitalization rate was also significantly reduced during monitoring (P < 0.01). ConclusionsManagement guided by PA pressure monitoring effectively reduced pressures, HFH, and all-cause hospitalization in patients with obesity regardless of EF. (CardioMEMS HF System Post Approval Study; NCT02279888)

Continuous long-term wireless measurement of right ventricular pressures and estimated diastolic pulmonary artery pressure in patients with severe COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome.

AimsWe continuously monitored right ventricular pressures and the estimated diastolic pulmonary artery pressure (ePAD) for up to 30 days in mechanically ventilated patients with severe COVID‐19 acute respiratory distress syndrome in order to detect and treat right ventricular and pulmonary artery hypertension.Methods and ResultsWe retrospectively evaluated right ventricular pressures and the ePAD measured in 30 invasively ventilated COVID‐19 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients between 1 October 2020 and 31 March 2021. We divided the patients into two groups, survivors and non‐survivors based on their 60 day mortality. Primary outcome variables were the values of right ventricular pressures and the ePAD over time after insertion of the right ventricular probe.Right ventricular systolic pressure [RVSP, (IQR; 25th to 75th percentile)] was significantly lower on the first and the last measurement day in the survivors compared with the non‐survivors [Day 1: 38 (27–45) vs. 46 (44–49), P = 0.036; last day: 36 (27–44) vs. 51 (40–57) mmHg, P = 0.006]. 16/22 survivors and 7/8 non‐survivors received sildenafil orally, one survivor received additionally inhaled nitric oxide and one survivor and one non‐survivor each inhaled iloprost. On the last measurement day, both right ventricular pressure amplitude [31 (26–37) vs. 38 (35–47) mmHg, P = 0.027] and ePAD [22 (16–26) vs. 31 (23–34) mmHg, P = 0.043] were significantly lower in the survivors compared with the non‐survivors. Four patients in the survivor group developed excessive high RVSP in the course of their disease (peak: 57/61/78/105 mmHg). After sildenafil 20 mg every 8 h, additional inhaled nitric oxide (20 ppm) in one and additional inhaled iloprost 20 μg every 4 h in another patient RVSP consecutively decreased substantially in all four patients until the end of the measurement period (47/23/42/47 mmHg).ConclusionsThe RVSP and right ventricular pressure amplitude both were significantly lower in the survivors compared with those in the non‐survivors with a significant decrease in RVSP over time in the survivors suggesting successful lowering by pulmonary vasodilators. The ePAD as an indicator of left heart failure was significantly higher in non‐survivors compared to the surviving patients.