Comparison of Long-Term Performance of Porcine versus Pericardial Bioprostheses.

Background: The long-term comparative results between porcine and pericardial bioprostheses for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is debated. Scarce information exists concerning direct comparative evaluation among contemporary devices. We compared late and very late results in a single center series (N=3,983 cases).

Diuretic dose is a strong prognostic factor in ambulatory patients awaiting heart transplantation.

Aims: The prognostic value of 'high dose' loop diuretics in advanced heart failure outpatients is unclear. We aimed to assess the prognosis associated with loop diuretic dose in ambulatory patients awaiting heart transplantation (HT).

Methods And Results: All ambulatory patients (n = 700, median age 55 years and 70% men) registered on the French national HT waiting list between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2019 were included.

Blood, Cellular, and Tissular Calcineurin Inhibitors Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Relationship in Heart Transplant Recipients: The INTRACAR Study.

Background: After heart transplantation, calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) (cyclosporin A and tacrolimus) are key immunosuppressive drugs to prevent graft rejection. Whole-blood concentration (C blood )-guided therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is systematically performed to improve graft outcomes. However, some patients will still experience graft rejection and/or adverse events despite CNI C blood within the therapeutic range.

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty versus riociguat for the treatment of inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (RACE): a multicentre, phase 3, open-label, randomised controlled trial and ancillary follow-up study.

Background: Riociguat and balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) are treatment options for inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). However, randomised controlled trials comparing these treatments are lacking. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BPA versus riociguat in patients with inoperable CTEPH.

Impact of Three Different Algorithms for the Screening of SSc-PAH and Comparison with the Decisions of a Multidisciplinary Team.

Background: to compare three existing screening algorithms of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) with the results of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting from a tertiary center.

Methods: we conducted a monocentric longitudinal study from 2015 to 2018. All patients with SSc according to LeRoy's classification were eligible.

Association between Initial Treatment Strategy and Long-Term Survival in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

The relationship between the initial treatment strategy and survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains uncertain. To evaluate the long-term survival of patients with PAH categorized according to the initial treatment strategy. A retrospective analysis of incident patients with idiopathic, heritable, or anorexigen-induced PAH enrolled in the French Pulmonary Hypertension Registry (January 2006 to December 2018) was conducted.

Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Common Variable Immunodeficiency.

Purpose: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is known to cause infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune manifestations. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an unusual complication of CVID with largely unknown characteristics and mechanisms.

Methods: We report the clinical, functional, hemodynamics, radiologic and histologic characteristics, and outcomes of CVID-associated PH patients from the French PH Network.

Durability of Mitral Valve Replacement With a Third-generation Bioprosthesis.

Background: Our aim was to evaluate the durability of a third-generation porcine bioprosthesis (Epic porcine xenograft; Abbott Cardiovascular Inc, St Paul, MN) in the mitral position, according to patients' age at surgery.

Methods: Four hundred eighty-two mitral valve replacements using the Epic valve at a single center were included (2009-2018). Perioperative and early postoperative data were prospectively collected.

Association between Leflunomide and Pulmonary Hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been described in patients treated with leflunomide. To assess the association between leflunomide and PH. We identified incident cases of PH in patients treated with leflunomide from the French PH Registry and through the pharmacoVIGIlAnce in Pulmonary ArTerial Hypertension (VIGIAPATH) program between September 1999 to December 2019.

Infective endocarditis in patients with heart transplantation.

Background: The incidence of nosocomial and health care-related infective endocarditis (IE) is increasing. Heart transplantation (HT) implies immunosuppression and frequent health care contact. Our aim was to describe the current profile and prognosis of IE in HT recipients.

Is Rifampin Use Associated With Better Outcome in Staphylococcal Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis? A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: International guidelines recommend rifampin-based combinations for staphylococcal prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). However, no robust clinical data support this recommendation, and rifampin tolerability is an issue. We aimed to evaluate the impact of rifampin for the treatment of staphylococcal PVE.

Phenotype and Outcomes of Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a rare and largely unknown complication of NF1. To describe characteristics and outcomes of PH-NF1. We reported the clinical, functional, radiologic, histologic, and hemodynamic characteristics, response to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)-approved drugs, and transplant-free survival of patients with PH-NF1 from the French PH registry.

Portopulmonary hypertension in the current era of pulmonary hypertension management.

Background & Aims: Long-term outcomes in portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) are poorly studied in the current era of pulmonary hypertension management. We analysed the effect of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)-targeted therapies, survival and predictors of death in a large contemporary cohort of patients with PoPH.

Methods: Data from patients with PoPH consecutively enrolled in the French Pulmonary Hypertension Registry between 2007 and 2017 were collected.

Phenotype and outcome of pulmonary arterial hypertension patients carrying a mutation.

Introduction: mutation causes small patella syndrome (SPS) and/or pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The characteristics and outcomes of PAH associated with mutations are largely unknown.

Methods: We report the clinical, functional, radiologic, histologic and haemodynamic characteristics and outcomes of heritable PAH patients carrying a mutation from the French pulmonary hypertension (PH) network.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension in four patients treated by leflunomide.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disorder that can be drug-induced, mostly following treatment by appetite-suppressant drugs. We report four cases of patients who developed PAH following a treatment by leflunomide for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or undetermined connective tissue disease. All patients described a progressive dyspnea from grade II to IV of NYHA classification; clinical examination found signs of heart failure.

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Results From the French Pulmonary Hypertension Registry.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We identified all patients with SLE and PAH (SLE-PAH) who were enrolled in the French Pulmonary Hypertension Registry with a diagnosis confirmed by right heart catheterization (RHC). A control group of 101 patients with SLE without known PAH was selected from SLE expert centers participating in the Pulmonary Hypertension Registry.

Risk assessment, prognosis and guideline implementation in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Current European guidelines recommend periodic risk assessment for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The aim of our study was to determine the association between the number of low-risk criteria achieved within 1 year of diagnosis and long-term prognosis.Incident patients with idiopathic, heritable and drug-induced PAH between 2006 and 2016 were analysed.