[Pulmonary hypertension and heart failure: the role of pulmonary vasculature]

Heart Transplantation in a 14-Year-Old Boy in the Presence of Severe Out-of-Proportion Pulmonary Hypertension due to Restrictive Left Heart Disease: A Case Report

A 14-year-old boy after balloon valvuloplasty of severe aortic valve stenosis in the neonatal period was referred for heart-lung transplantation because of high grade pulmonary hypertension and left heart dysfunction due to endocardial fibroelastosis with severe mitral insufficiency. After heart catheterization, hemodynamic parameters were invasively monitored: a course of levosimendan and initiation of diuretics led to a decrease of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (from maximum 35 to 24 mmHg). Instead of an expected decrease, mean pulmonary artery pressures (mPAP) increased up to 80 mmHg with increasing transpulmonary pressure gradient (TPG) up to 55 mmHg. Oral bosentan and intravenous epoprostenol then led to a ~50% decrease of mPAP (TPG between 16 and 22 mmHg). The boy was listed solely for heart transplantation which was successfully accomplished 1 month later.

Impact of pulmonary hypertension on early hemodynamics, morbidity and mortality after orthotopic heart transplantation. A single center study

AIMS

To determine the effect of pre-existing pulmonary hypertension (PHT) on early hemodynamics, morbidity and mortality after heart transplantation (HTx).

METHODS

Data were prospectively collected from 149 patients, who underwent HTx between January 2000 and December 2007. The subjects were divided into 3 groups: Group A (n=84) without PTH, group B (n=50) with mild to moderate PTH and group C (n=15) with severe PTH. We studied hemodynamic profile, tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR), incidence of acute cellular rejections (AR), infections, duration of hospitalization, 30-day mortality and a long-term survival.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics were similar in all groups. Using vasodilator treatment PVR was successfully brought down to normal range 2.5 ± 0.6 Wood' units (WU) on the day 1 following the surgery in all groups. Over 80% of patients were treated in Group C, 32% in Group A and 46% in Group B. There was no significant difference in the severity of TR among the 3 groups early after HTx (severe TR was observed in 46%, 54%, 33%, respectively). There was no significant difference in incidence of AR (G ≥ 2 Banff classification) (23%, 23%, 33%, respectively), infections (28%, 32%, 33%, respectively) or duration of hospitalization (30, 30, 28 days, respectively). There was no correlation between pre-transplant PHT and 30-day mortality or a long-term survival.

CONCLUSIONS

In our cohort, PHT dropped very quickly after HTx, and was not associated with acute right heart failure following the surgery. Reversible PTH does not have a negative impact on short- or long-term survival after HTx.