Right ventricular dysfunction in systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension

Ryan J. Tedford, James O. Mudd, Reda E. Girgis, Stephen C. Mathai, Ari L. Zaiman, Traci Housten-Harris, Danielle Boyce, Benjamin W. Kelemen, Anita C. Bacher, Ami A. Shah, Laura K. Hummers, Fredrick M. Wigley, Stuart D. Russell, Rajeev Saggar, Rajan Saggar, W. Lowell Maughan, Paul M. Hassoun, David A. Kass

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

130 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background-Systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary artery hypertension (SScPAH) has a worse prognosis compared with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), with a median survival of 3 years after diagnosis often caused by right ventricular (RV) failure. We tested whether SScPAH or systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary hypertension with interstitial lung disease imposes a greater pulmonary vascular load than IPAH and leads to worse RV contractile function. Methods and Results-We analyzed pulmonary artery pressures and mean flow in 282 patients with pulmonary hypertension (166 SScPAH, 49 systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary hypertension with interstitial lung disease, and 67 IPAH). An inverse relation between pulmonary resistance and compliance was similar for all 3 groups, with a near constant resistance×compliance product. RV pressure-volume loops were measured in a subset, IPAH (n=5) and SScPAH (n=7), as well as SSc without PH (n=7) to derive contractile indexes (end-systolic elastance [Ees] and preload recruitable stroke work [Msw]), measures of RV load (arterial elastance [Ea]), and RV pulmonary artery coupling (Ees/Ea). RV afterload was similar in SScPAH and IPAH (pulmonary vascular resistance=7.0±4.5 versus 7.9±4.3 Wood units; Ea=0.9±0.4 versus 1.2±0.5 mm Hg/mL; pulmonary arterial compliance=2.4±1.5 versus 1.7±1.1 mL/mm Hg; P>0.3 for each). Although SScPAH did not have greater vascular stiffening compared with IPAH, RV contractility was more depressed (Ees=0. 8±0.3 versus 2.3±1.1, P<0.01; Msw=21±11 versus 45±16, P=0.01), with differential RV-PA uncoupling (Ees/E a=1.0±0.5 versus 2.1±1.0; P=0.03). This ratio was higher in SSc without PH (Ees/Ea=2.3±1.2; P=0.02 versus SScPAH). Conclusions-RV dysfunction is worse in SScPAH compared with IPAH at similar afterload, and may be because of intrinsic systolic function rather than enhanced pulmonary vascular resistive and pulsatile loading.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)953-963
Number of pages11
JournalCirculation: Heart Failure
Volume6
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2013

Keywords

  • Hypertension, pulmonary
  • Scleroderma, systemic
  • Vascular capacitance
  • Vascular resistance
  • Ventricular function, right

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Right ventricular dysfunction in systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this