A review of the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease

Plasma metabolomics in the perioperative period of defect repair in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease

The quality of life and survival rates of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease (CHD-PAH) have been greatly improved by defect-repair surgery and personalized treatments. However, those who survive surgery may remain at risk of persistent PAH, the prognosis may be considerably worse than those unoperated. Dynamic monitoring of clinical measures during the perioperative period of shunt correction is therefore indispensable and of great value. In this study, we explored the plasma-metabolite profiling in 13 patients with CHD-PAH during the perioperative period of defect repair. Plasma was harvested at four time points: prior to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) after anesthesia (Pre), immediately after CPB (T0), 24 h (T24), and 48 h (T48) after defect repair. Untargeted metabolomics strategy based on UPLC Q-TOF MS was used to detect the metabolites. A total of 193 distinguishing metabolites were determined at different time points, enriched in pathways such as oxidation of branched-chain fatty acids. We found that 17 metabolite alterations were significantly correlated with the reduction in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) at T48 versus Pre. Gradients in diastolic pulmonary arterial pressure (DPAP), bicarbonate in radial artery (aHCO₃), bicarbonate in superior vena cava (svcHCO₃), and the partial pressure of dissolved CO₂ gas in radial artery (aPCO₂) were positively correlated with MPAP gradient. Notably, these clinical-measure gradients were correlated with alterations in shunt-correction-associated metabolites. In total, 12 out of 17 identified metabolites in response to defect repair were increased at both T24 and T48 (all P < 0.05, except propionylcarnitine with P < 0.05 at T24). In contrast, galactinol dihydrate, guanosine monophosphate, and hydroxyphenylacetylglycine tended to decline at T24 and T48 (only galactinol dihydrate with P < 0.05 at T48). In conclusion, 17 metabolites that respond to shunt correction could be used as suitable noninvasive markers, and clinical measures, including DPAP, aHCO₃, svcHCO₃, and aPCO₂, would be of great value in disease monitoring and evaluating future therapeutic interventions.

Increased risk of pulmonary hypertension following premature birth

Background

Pulmonary hypertension (PAH) among children and adults has been linked to premature birth, even after adjustments for known risk factors such as congenital heart disease and chronic lung disease. The aim of this population-based registry study was to assess the risk of PAH following exposure to premature birth and other factors in the decades when modern neonatal care was introduced and survival rates increased.

Methods

Data on pulmonary hypertension and perinatal factors were retrieved from population-based governmental and national quality registers. Cases were adults and children over five years of age with pulmonary hypertension born from 1973 to 2010 and individually matched to six controls by birth year and delivery hospital. Conditional multiple logistic regression was performed to assess the risk of pulmonary hypertension following premature birth and to adjust for known confounding factors for the total study population and for time of birth, grouped into five-year intervals.

Results

In total, 128 cases and 768 controls were included in the study group. Preterm birth was over three times more common among cases (21%) than among controls (6%). The overall adjusted risk of pulmonary hypertension was associated with premature birth, OR = 4.48 (95% CI; 2.10–9.53). Maternal hypertension, several neonatal risk factors and female gender were independently associated with PAH when potential confounders were taken into account. For each five-year period, the risk of PAH following premature birth increased several times for children born in the 2000s and later, OR = 17.08 (95% CI 5.60–52.14).

Conclusions

Preterm birth, along with other factors, significantly contributes to PAH. PAH following premature birth has increased over the last few decades. Our study indicates that new, yet unknown factors may play a role in the risk of preterm-born infants developing PAH later in life.

Risk factors for pulmonary arterial hypertension in children and young adults

OBJECTIVES

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been linked to preterm birth explained by congenital heart defects and pulmonary diseases.

WORKING HYPOTHESIS

Other factors may influence the risk of PH among adolescences and children born premature.

STUDY DESIGN

This national registry-based study assess risk of PH following premature birth adjusted for known risk factors.

PATIENT-SUBJECT SELECTION AND METHODOLOGY

All cases born 1993-2010, identified by diagnostic codes applicable to PH and retrieved from the Swedish Registry of Congenital Heart Disease (N = 67). Six controls were randomly selected and matched to each case by year of birth and hospital by the Swedish Medical Birth Register (N = 402). Maternal and infant data related to preterm birth, pulmonary diseases, and congenital defects were retrieved. The association between preterm birth and pulmonary hypertension was calculated by conditional logistic regression taking into account potential confounding factors.

RESULTS

One third of the cases and seven percent of the controls were born preterm in our study. Preterm birth was associated with PH, OR = 8.46 (95%CI 2.97-24.10) (P < 0.0001) even after adjusting for confounding factors. Other factors, such as acute pulmonary diseases, congenital heart defects, congenital diaphragm herniation, and chromosomal disorders were also associated with PH in the multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Children and young adults born preterm are known to have an increased risk of PH, previously explained by congenital heart defects and pulmonary diseases. By adjusting for such factors, our study indicates that new factors may play a role in the risk of developing PH among children born preterm. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017;52:636-641. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Some neonatal risk factors for adult pulmonary arterial hypertension remain unknown

AIM

Pulmonary hypertension has been linked to premature birth, chronic lung disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and congenital heart disease. This national population-based registry study assessed the risk of adult pulmonary hypertension following premature birth, adjusted for known risk factors.

METHODS

We focused on adults in the Swedish Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Registry, who were born prematurely, and controls randomly selected from the Swedish medical birth register and matched to each case by birth year and delivery hospital. Information on perinatal factors was also retrieved from the medical birth register. Conditional multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between premature birth and adult pulmonary hypertension, taking into account the potential confounding factors.

RESULTS

The study population comprised 427 adults born between 1973 and 1996, with 61 cases and 366 controls. Adult pulmonary hypertension was associated with premature birth, with an odds ratio of 3.08 and 95% confidence interval of 1.21-7.87. The association did not alter after adjusting for potential confounders.

CONCLUSION

By adjusting for factors linked to adult pulmonary hypertension, namely congenital heart defects, pulmonary diseases and premature birth, we were able to show that other unknown factors may influence the risk for pulmonary hypertension among adults who were born premature.

Nano vesicular lipid carriers of angiotensin II receptor blocker: Anti-hypertensive and skin toxicity study in focus

OBJECTIVE

Nanoethosomal carriers of valsartan have been previously prepared, characterized and optimized. A gel formulation of valsartan vesicular lipid carriers was composed of Carbopol(®) (1% w/w), polyethylene glycol-400 (15% w/w) and triethanolamine (0.5% w/w). The influence of the valsartan nanoethosomal formulation developed on the blood pressure of experimental hypertensive rats, and its potential for skin irritation, are presented in this report.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experimental rats were divided into three groups; the control group received no treatment (Group A). Group B was administered methyl prednisolone acetate (20 mg/kg/week) for two weeks (hypertensive control). Group C received methyl prednisolone acetate, followed by administration of the valsartan ethosomal formulation. The blood pressure of the rats was measured using a non-invasive rat blood pressure instrument based on the tail-cuff technique. The statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad InStat 3 software.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The treatment group showed a significant (P < 0.05) and constant fall in blood pressure, for up to 48 h. The valsartan ethosomal formulation was found to be effective, with a 34.11% reduction in blood pressure. The formulation's potential for skin irritation was assessed by the Draize irritation score test, which ruled out the possibility of any skin irritation caused by application of the formulation in rats.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that nanoethosomes are efficient carriers for transdermal delivery of valsartan, for the management of hypertension.

Information experiences and needs in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Background. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) are fatal, noncurable, but treatable diseases that strongly affect the patients. Objective. To describe patients' experience of information relating to PAH or CTEPH. Methods. A qualitative method using content analysis was applied. Seventeen patients (thirteen women and four men) aged 28–73 years from a regional PAH centre were individually interviewed. Results. Three categories that describe patients' experiences of information emerged: handling of information, struggling with feelings that also affect others, and vulnerability associated with uncertainty. The patients would have welcomed more information to relatives from the healthcare professionals. Shortcomings on communicating a prognosis were experienced. The mediated information and knowledge gave the patients insight into physical or psychosocial problems. Mutual exchange of information between patients and healthcare professionals were marred by different experiences of attitudes, behaviour, and ownership. Conclusions. In the future, healthcare organizations must struggle to achieve a holistic healthcare by making it more person-centred, and they must also promote cooperation between PAH centres and local healthcare providers. It is essential to determine the most appropriate and valuable path of information and communication and, thereby, the most cost-effective management of PAH or CTEPH.

Transdermal delivery of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and others for management of hypertension

CONTEXT

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) are some of the most commonly prescribed medications for hypertension.

OBJECTIVE

Most of all conventional dosage forms of ARBs and ACEIs undergo extensive first-pass metabolism, which significantly reduces bioavailability. Majority of ARBs and ACEIs are inherently short acting due to a rapid elimination half-life. In addition, oral dosage forms of ARBs and ACEIs have many high incidences of adverse effects due to variable absorption profiles, higher frequency of administration and poor patient compliance.

METHODS

Many attempts have been made globally at the laboratory level to investigate the skin permeation and to develop transdermal therapeutic systems of various ARBs, ACEIs and other anti-hypertensives, to circumvent the drawbacks associated with their conventional dosage form.

RESULTS

This manuscript presents an outline of the transdermal research specifically in the area of ARBs, ACEIs and other anti-hypertensives reported in various pharmaceutical journals.

CONCLUSION

The transdermal delivery has gained a significant importance for systemic treatment as it is able to avoid first-pass metabolism and major fluctuations of plasma levels typical of repeated oral administration. As we can experience from this review article that transdermal delivery of different ARBs and ACEIs improves bioavailability as well as patient compliance by many folds. In fact, the rationale development of some newer ARBs, ACEIs and other anti-hypertensives transdermal systems will provide new ways of treatment, circumventing current limitations for conventional dosage forms.