Faculty Collaboration Database

Left Ventricular Assist Devices in Pulmonary Hypertension Group 2 With Significantly Elevated Pulmonary Vascular Resistance: A Bridge to Cure. Heart Lung Circ 2019 Jun;28(6):946-952

Date

06/14/2018

Pubmed ID

29895486

DOI

10.1016/j.hlc.2018.04.299

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85048163069 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   38 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension secondary to left heart disease (WHO Group 2) is a known risk factor in patients with heart failure. The favourable effect of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) on pulmonary hypertension has been demonstrated before, although this effect has not been well-studied in advanced pulmonary arterial bed disease with a significant elevation in pulmonary vascular resistance.

METHODS: We reviewed the records of 258 LVAD patients in our institution. Patients with elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP>25mmHg) and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR ≥3 Wood units) were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups based on their baseline PVR (PVR=3-5 Wood units (WU) vs. PVR>5WU). The groups were studied for the changes in their pulmonary haemodynamics after the placement of LVAD.

RESULTS: Fifty-one (51) patients were included in the study. All patients showed a significant improvement in their pulmonary haemodynamic parameters post LVAD placement. In the group with the higher PVR, mPAP dropped from a baseline of 43±7mmHg to 22±6mmHg post LVAD placement (p<0.001), while PVR dropped from 6.3±1.2 Wood units to 2.2±1.1 Wood units (p<0.001). In a subgroup of patients who underwent cardiac transplantation post LVAD (n=14), all patients maintained a normalised PVR (<3WU) one year post cardiac transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular assist devices can reverse pulmonary hypertension WHO Group 2 with significantly elevated PVR; this effect is not dependent on the baseline PVR, and is maintained up to one year post cardiac transplantation.

Author List

Selim AM, Wadhwani L, Burdorf A, Raichlin E, Lowes B, Zolty R

Author

Eugenia Raichlin MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Female
Heart Transplantation
Heart-Assist Devices
Hemodynamics
Humans
Hypertension, Pulmonary
Male
Middle Aged
Pulmonary Artery
Registries
Vascular Resistance