Clinically significant change in stroke volume in pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Stroke volume is probably the best hemodynamic parameter because it reflects therapeutic changes and contains prognostic information in pulmonary hypertension (PH). Stroke volume directly reflects right ventricular function in response to its load, without the correction of compensatory increased heart rate as is the case for cardiac output. For this reason, stroke volume, which can be measured noninvasively, is an important hemodynamic parameter to monitor during treatment.

Relation of resting heart rate to prognosis in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Heart rate (HR) at rest is an important marker of prognosis in heart failure, but has not been addressed in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). To determine the prognostic value of HR at rest in patients with PAH, we retrospectively analyzed 140 consecutive patients with idiopathic PAH. Electrocardiogram (ECG)-derived HR at rest was evaluated as a potential predictor of adverse prognosis (death or lung transplantation), in addition to World Health Organization functional class, 6-minute walk distance, and hemodynamics before and approximately 1 year and 2 years after initiation of PAH treatment.

ECG monitoring of treatment response in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients.

Background: The potential use of the ECG for monitoring treatment effects in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has not been investigated. We evaluated whether the ECG is useful for monitoring treatment response based on changes in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR).

Methods: An ECG was recorded in 81 PAH patients at the time of diagnostic right heart catheterization and after 1 year of treatment.

Right coronary artery flow impairment in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Aims: This study investigates whether increased right ventricular (RV) pressure in pulmonary hypertension (PH) impairs right coronary artery (RCA) flow and RV perfusion.

Methods: In 25 subjects, five patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, nine patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary arterial hypertension, and 11 healthy controls, flow of the RCA and left anterior descending (LAD) artery was measured with MR flow quantification.

Results: In PH, RCA peak systolic and mean systolic flow were lower, 1.

Prognostic value of right ventricular mass, volume, and function in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Aims: This study investigated the relationship between right ventricular (RV) structure and function and survival in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH).

Methods And Results: In 64 patients, cardiac magnetic resonance, right heart catheterization, and the six-minute walk test (6MWT) were performed at baseline and after 1-year follow-up. RV structure and function were analysed as predictors of mortality.