Learning and research

The 6-min walk test (6MWT) has significant prognostic value, but requires long walking distances and lacks evaluation of exercise speed. This study aimed to investigate the clinical utility of a new walk test, the 18-meter walk test (18MWT), in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) as a complement to the 6MWT.

The molecular mechanisms driving right ventricular (RV) adaptation to stress and failure in end-stage heart failure (HF) are largely unknown. We aimed to characterize myocardial transcriptional changes in the RV caused by left sided HF and comparing RV compensation to failure. 

Lung transplantation is indicated for selected patients with advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We used a modified Delphi process to develop recommendations on care of patients with PAH undergoing lung transplantation. 

Recent international guidelines recommend a multidisciplinary evaluation and care model for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), but there is a paucity of supporting data. The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes of a multidisciplinary team approach to the comprehensive care of CTEPH patients. 

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined hemodynamically as a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) ≥ 20 mmHg, measured at right heart catheterization (RHC). Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is defined as a mPAP ≥ 20 mmHg with a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) or left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) of ≤ 15 mmHg and a pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) > 2 Woods Units (WU). 

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a heterogenic diagnosis including idiopathic and hereditary PAH (IPAH/HPAH) and groups associated to connective tissue disease (APAH-CTD) and congenital heart disease (APAH-CHD). Pre- and post-diagnosis societal costs in PAH subgroups are not well known.

Several disease related factors of pulmonary hypertension (PH) can negatively impact the nutritional status, leading to an increased risk of malnutrition. However, there are no studies on the best method for nutritional screening in PH patients.

Prognostic markers of Group 3 pulmonary hypertension (PH) remain largely unknown. In this study, we evaluate clinical data to provide a comprehensive profile of patients with Group 3 PH and evaluate the potential use of vasoreactivity testing as a prognostic tool within this population.

A meaningful number of patients with PAH die suddenly, and there is little data to understand the events surrounding sudden death in PAH. We tested the hypothesis that sudden death is associated with pre-mortem ECG or hemodynamics changes compared to those who died of RHF.