scholarly journals EXPRESS: Health disparities and treatment approaches in portopulmonary hypertension and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension: An analysis of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry

2021 ◽  
pp. 204589402110209
Author(s):  
Hilary Megan DuBrock ◽  
Charles D. Burger ◽  
Sonja Bartolome ◽  
Jeremy Feldman ◽  
David D Ivy ◽  
...  

Compared to idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), patients with portopulmonary hypertension (POPH) have worse survival. Health disparities may contribute to these differences but have not been studied. We sought to compare socioeconomic factors in patients with POPH and IPAH and to determine whether socioeconomic status (SES) and/or POPH diagnosis were associated with treatment and healthcare utilization. We performed a cross-sectional study of adults enrolled in the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry. Patients with IPAH (n=344) and POPH (n=57) were compared. Compared with IPAH, patients with POPH were less likely to be college graduates (19.6 versus 34.9%, p=0.02) and more likely to be unemployed (54.7 versus 30.5%, p<0.001) and have an annual household income below poverty level (45.7 versus 19.0%, p<0.001). Patients with POPH had similar functional class, quality of life, 6MWD and mean pulmonary arterial pressure with a higher cardiac index. Compared with IPAH, patients with POPH were less likely to receive combination therapy (46.4 versus 62.2%, p=0.03) and endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs) (28.6 versus 55.1%, p<0.001) at enrollment with similar treatment at follow-up. Patients with POPH had more emergency department (ED) visits (1.7±2.1 versus 0.9±1.2, p=0.009) and hospitalizations in the 6 months preceding enrollment (1.5±2.1 versus 0.8±1.1, p=0.02). Both POPH diagnosis and lower education level were independently associated with a higher number of ED visits. Compared to IPAH, patients with POPH have lower SES, are less likely to receive initial combination therapy and ERAs but have similar treatment at follow-up and have increased healthcare utilization.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 204589401989542
Author(s):  
Li Huang ◽  
Wen Li ◽  
Tao Yang ◽  
Changming Xiong ◽  
Xinhai Ni ◽  
...  

Both portal hypertension and splenectomy are risk factors for pulmonary hypertension. However, the interactions between portal hypertension and splenectomy in the development of pulmonary hypertension remain unclear. Twelve newly diagnosed pulmonary hypertension patients with a previous history of splenectomy induced by portal hypertension were recruited between November 2008 and May 2017. We compared their clinical features, hemodynamics, and prognosis with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension patients, who were matched by cardiac index, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, and pulmonary vascular resistance. We also compared the clinical characteristics of portal hypertension-post-splenectomy-pulmonary hypertension patients with eight portopulmonary hypertension patients. Compared with the matched idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension patients, the portal hypertension-post-splenectomy-pulmonary hypertension patients showed significantly wider red blood cell distribution width (16.7 ± 2.8% versus 13.3 ± 1.7%, p = 0.004), higher total bilirubin concentration (31.0 ± 13.8 µmol/l versus 18.9 ± 10.0 µmol/l, p = 0.010), and higher lactate dehydrogenase concentration (321.5 ± 41.2 IU/l versus 229.2 ± 69.4 IU/l, p = 0.001). Kaplan–Meier survival analyses showed that the portal hypertension-post-splenectomy-pulmonary hypertension patients tended to have poorer prognosis than the matched idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension patients (log-rank test: p = 0.010). Compared with the portal hypertension-post-splenectomy-pulmonary hypertension patients, the portopulmonary hypertension cohort appeared to exhibit poorer clinical conditions, including significantly lower mixed venous oxygen saturation (62.9 ± 8.0% versus 73.9 ± 6.5%, p = 0.004) and a significantly higher proportion of pericardial effusion (75.0% versus 8.3%, p = 0.004), even though the two cohorts showed similar hemodynamics. The mean intervals from diagnosis of portal hypertension to pulmonary hypertension in portopulmonary hypertension patients were significantly shorter than the intervals from splenectomy to diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension in portal hypertension-post-splenectomy-pulmonary hypertension patients (5.5 ± 5.2 years versus 13.1 ± 5.9 years, p = 0.008). Splenectomy might be involved in the initiation and development of pulmonary hypertension in patients with portal hypertension, although the precise mechanisms involved remain unknown. Portal hypertension-post-splenectomy-pulmonary hypertension patients might have poorer prognosis even with mild hemodynamics.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 240-243
Author(s):  
Adam Maxwell ◽  
◽  
Thomas Holman ◽  
Timea Novak ◽  
◽  
...  

A 31-year old woman presented to the acute medical unit 9 days post-partum with shortness of breath and peripheral oedema. Initially suspected to have either a pulmonary embolism or post-partum cardiomyopathy, she proceeded to have imaging including a CT Pulmonary angiogram and echocardiogram, which were suggestive of pulmonary hypertension and severe right heart failure. Her history and other investigations did not reveal any obvious cause for this. She was transferred to a specialist centre where she was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (IPAH), previously known as primary pulmonary hypertension. Shortness of breath during pregnancy and in the postpartum period is a relatively common acute medical presentation. Whilst IPAH is a rare diagnosis, it carries a high mortality rate, particularly in pregnancy, and requires prompt specialist investigation, diagnosis and management.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Gargani ◽  
V Codullo ◽  
P Argiento ◽  
A Moreo ◽  
F Pieri ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are at risk of developing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), which is often diagnosed late when the benefits of vasoactive therapies are limited. The concept of exercise pulmonary hypertension as a possible transitional phase anticipating resting PAH has been assessed in several pathologies, but has not been endorsed by the latest European Guidelines, because not supported by sufficient data. Purpose To evaluate whether PASP values at rest and at peak exercise, estimated at echocardiography, could be predictors of further development of PAH. Methods Four hundred and twenty-nine SSc patients without a previous diagnosis of PAH, enrolled at 4 referral Centres, underwent standard exercise Doppler echocardiography with PASP estimation at rest and at peak stress. Patients were then followed-up to assess the development of PAH, as diagnosed by a complete diagnostic work-up including right heart catheterization. PAH was defined by pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥25 mmHg with pulmonary arterial wedge pressure ≤15 mmHg), without significant interstitial lung disease and/or left heart disease. Results During the median follow-up of 75 months (IQR 29–114), 16 patients developed PAH. A combined cut-off of ≥24 mmHg as resting PASP and ≥40 as peak PASP was identified as the best predictor of further development of PAH (see Figure). Both resting PASP and peak PASP were predictors of PAH at univariate analysis (resting PASP OR 1.13, 95% C.I. 1.07–1.19, p<0.0001; peak PASP OR 1.13, 95% C.I. 1.07–1.18, p<0.0001). At multivariate analysis, only peak PASP was independently associated to PAH development (OR 1.13, 95% C.I. 1.04–1.18, p<0.001). Only one patient among those with resting PASP <24 mmHg and peak PASP <40 mmHg (34.7% of the total population) developed PAH during the follow-up (after 10 years from normal exercise Doppler echocardiography). Kaplan-Meier curves Conclusions Exercise increase in PASP is an independent predictor of later development of PAH in SSc. An increase in exercise PASP is frequent and is not necessarily associated with a later development of PAH, whereas the very high negative predictive value of a normal PASP both at rest and at peak exercise can be used in the clinical practice to confidently rule out about one third of patients. Acknowledgement/Funding Italian Ministry of Health (Ricerca Finalizzata 2011-2012)


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 204589401985753
Author(s):  
Lina Caicedo ◽  
Rachel Hopper ◽  
Humberto Garcia Aguilar ◽  
Dunbar Ivy ◽  
Dora Haag ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to determine practice patterns and inter-institutional variability in how acute vasoreactivity testing (AVT) is performed and interpreted in pediatrics throughout the world. A survey was offered to physicians affiliated with the Pediatric & Congenital Heart Disease Taskforce of the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute (PVRI), the Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Network (PPHNET), or the Spanish Registry for Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension (REHIPED), from February to December 2016. The survey requested data about the site-specific protocol for AVT and subsequent management of pediatric patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) or heritable PAH (HPAH). Twenty-eight centers from 13 countries answered the survey. AVT is performed in most centers using inhaled nitric oxide (iNO). Sitbon criteria was used in 39% of the centers, Barst criteria in 43%, and other criteria in 18%. First-line therapy for positive AVT responders in functional class (FC) I/II was calcium channel blocker (CCB) in 89%, but only in 68% as monotherapy. Most centers (71%) re-evaluated AVT-positive patients hemodynamics after 6–12 months; 29% of centers re-evaluated based only on clinical criteria. Most centers (64%) considered a good response as remaining in FC I or II, with near normalization of pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance, but a stable FC I/II alone was sufficient criteria in 25% of sites. Protocols and diagnostic criteria for AVT, and therapeutic approaches during follow-up, were highly variable across the world. Reported clinical practice is not fully congruent with current guidelines, suggesting the need for additional studies that better define the prognostic value of AVT for pediatric IPAH patients.


2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (4) ◽  
pp. H1235-H1248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Revathi Rajkumar ◽  
Kazuhisa Konishi ◽  
Thomas J. Richards ◽  
David C. Ishizawar ◽  
Andrew C. Wiechert ◽  
...  

Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a life-threatening condition characterized by pulmonary arteriolar remodeling. This investigation aimed to identify genes involved specifically in the pathogenesis of PAH and not other forms of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Using genomewide microarray analysis, we generated the largest data set to date of RNA expression profiles from lung tissue specimens from 1) 18 PAH subjects and 2) 8 subjects with PH secondary to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and 3) 13 normal subjects. A molecular signature of 4,734 genes discriminated among these three cohorts. We identified significant novel biological changes that were likely to contribute to the pathogenesis of PAH, including regulation of actin-based motility, protein ubiquitination, and cAMP, transforming growth factor-β, MAPK, estrogen receptor, nitric oxide, and PDGF signaling. Bone morphogenic protein receptor type II expression was downregulated, even in subjects without a mutation in this gene. Women with PAH had higher expression levels of estrogen receptor 1 than normal women. Real-time quantitative PCR confirmed differential expression of the following genes in PAH relative to both normal controls and PH secondary to IPF: a disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motif 9, cell adhesion molecule with homology to L1CAM, cytochrome b558and β-polypeptide, coagulation factor II receptor-like 3, A-myb myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog 1, nuclear receptor coactivator 2, purinergic receptor P2Y, platelet factor 4, phospholamban, and tropomodulin 3. This study shows that PAH and PH secondary to IPF are characterized by distinct gene expression signatures, implying distinct pathophysiological mechanisms.


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