A Global Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Registry: Is It Needed? Is It Feasible?

Characteristics and survival data from Latvian pulmonary hypertension registry: comparison of prospective pulmonary hypertension registries in Europe

Patient registries are a valuable tool in the research of rare conditions such as pulmonary hypertension (PH). We report comprehensive hemodynamic and survival data of 174 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), included in the prospective Latvian PH registry over a period of > 9 years. In total, 130 adult PAH patients (75%) and 44 adult CTEPH patients (25%) were enrolled. The median follow-up period was 33 months for PAH and 18 months for CTEPH, P = 0.001. Latvian CTEPH patients had significantly higher plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide, higher pulmonary vascular resistance, and lower cardiac index than Latvian PAH patients. Calculated incidence of PAH and CTEPH in Latvia in 2016 was 13.7 and 5.1 cases per million inhabitants, calculated prevalence was 45.7 and 15.7 cases per million inhabitants, respectively. Survival rates at one, three, and five years for PAH patients was 88.0%, 73.3%, and 58.1%, and 83.8%, 59.0%, and 44.2% for CTEPH patients, respectively. We compared our study results with data from European adult PH registries. Latvian PAH patients had the fourth lowest and CTEPH patients the lowest one-year survival rate among European adult PH registries. As most PH registries in Europe are small, yet with equivalent patient inclusion criteria, it would be desirable to combine these registries to produce more reliable and high-quality study results.

'Real-life' information on pulmonary arterial hypertension: the iPHnet Project

BACKGROUND

Over the last two decades the development and analysis of a number of registries have enhanced the knowledge of the epidemiology, presentation, natural history, and pathophysiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The understanding of the effectiveness of available treatments has also been greatly improved. However, most of the registries present some methodological issues, such as differences in the classification of patients and presence of confounding factors or missing values, that can impact on the generalizability of the results.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to present the Italian Pulmonary Hypertension Network (iPHnet) Project, a database used to collect health records on patients with PAH that can also be used for research purposes to retrieve ad hoc information.

RESULTS

iPHnet presents various characteristics such as facilitated access, data sharing and interoperability, update, patient's anonymity and data integrity. The system also enables the creation of patients' electronic health records (EHRs), the exportation and personalization of data and the possibility to design clinical report forms (CRFs) and collect information usable in clinical trials. In addition, it is possible to analyze the information present in the registry, creating graphs or other immediately available charts to evaluate the trends of a specific data and perform therapeutic or clinic adjustments. Treatment of data in the iPHnet database complies with FDA requirements, backup and disaster recovery policies and patients' privacy.

CONCLUSIONS

iPHnet is a flexible tool that integrates the capabilities of an EHR for PAH patients with those of a PAH registry. The ability to retrieve relevant information - although with all the limitations of any registry-based analysis - and to create appropriate CRFs will facilitate the development of prospective and retrospective trials aimed at providing new 'real-life' evidence on PAH.

Interdisciplinary networks for the treatment of childhood pulmonary vascular disease: what pulmonary hypertension doctors can learn from pediatric oncologists

The pathobiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is complex and multifactorial. None of the current therapies has been shown to be universally effective or able to reverse advanced pulmonary vascular disease, characterized by plexiform vascular lesions, or to prevent right ventricular failure in advanced PAH. It is thus unlikely that only one factor, pathway, or gene mutation will explain all forms and cases. Pediatric oncologists recognized a need for intensified, collaborative research within their field more than 40 years ago and implemented major clinical and translational networks worldwide to achieve evidence-based "tailored therapies." The similarities in the pathobiology (e.g., increased proliferation and resistance to apoptosis in vascular cells and perivascular inflammation) and the uncertainties in the proper treatment of both cancer and pulmonary hypertension (PH) have led to the idea of building interdisciplinary networks among PH centers to achieve rapid translation of basic research findings, optimal diagnostic algorithms, and significant, sustained treatment results. Such networks leading to patient registries, clinical trials, drug development, and innovative, effective therapies are urgently needed for the care of children with PH. This article reviews the current status, limitations, and recent developments in the field of pediatric PH. It is suggested that the oncologists' exemplary networks, concepts, and results in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia are applicable to future networks and innovative therapies for pediatric pulmonary hypertensive vascular disease and right ventricular dysfunction.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension: challenges in translational research and a vision for change

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a vascular remodeling disease with a relentless course toward heart failure and early death. Existing PAH therapies, all of which were developed originally to treat systemic vascular diseases, cannot reverse the disease or markedly improve survival and are expensive. Although there has been a recent increase in the number of potential new therapies emerging from animal studies, less than 3% of the active PAH clinical trials are examining such therapies. There are many potential explanations for the translational gap in this complex multifactorial disease. We discuss these challenges and propose solutions that range from including clinical endpoints in animal studies and improving the rigor of human trials to conducting mechanistic early-phase trials and randomized trials with innovative designs based on personalized medicine principles. Global, independent patient and tissue registries and enhanced communication among academics, industry, and regulatory authorities are needed. The diversity of the mechanisms and pathology of PAH calls for broad comprehensive theories that encompass emerging evidence for contributions of metabolism and inflammation to PAH to support more effective therapeutic target identification.

Pulmonary hypertension in Portugal: first data from a nationwide registry

Introduction. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease that must be managed in specialized centers; therefore, the availability of epidemiological national data is critical. Methods. We conducted a prospective, observational, and multicenter registry with a joint collaboration from five centers from Portugal and included adult incident patients with PAH or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Results. Of the 79 patients enrolled in this study, 46 (58.2%) were classified as PAH and 33 patients (41.8%) as CTEPH. PAH patients had a mean age of 43.4 ± 16.4 years. Idiopathic PAH was the most common etiology (37%). At presentation, PAH patients had elevated right atrial pressure (RAP) (7.7 ± 5.9 mmHg) and mean pulmonary vascular resistance (11.4 ± 6.5 Wood units), with a low cardiac index (2.7 ± 1.1 L·min⁻¹·m⁻²); no patient was under selective pulmonary vasodilators; however, at follow-up, most patients were on single (50%), double (28%), or triple (9%) combination vasodilator therapy. One-year survival was 93.5%, similar to CTEPH patients (93.9%), that were older (60.0 ± 12.5 years) and had higher RAP (11.0 ± 5.2 mmHg, P = 0.015). Conclusions. We describe for the first time nationwide data on the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of PAH and CTEPH patients in Portugal. Clinical presentation and outcomes are comparable with those reported on other national registries.

Pulmonary hypertension associated with rheumatic diseases: baseline characteristics from the Korean registry

OBJECTIVES

The REgistry of Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Rheumatic Disease (REOPARD) was established in Korea. The baseline data are described from the second year of the registry's operation.

METHODS

Patients with a connective tissue disease (CTD) who met the modified definition of the WHO group I pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were enrolled. PAH was defined as a systolic pulmonary arterial pressure> 40 mmHg by echocardiography or mean pulmonary arterial pressure> 25 mmHg by right heart catheterization. Hemodynamic parameters and clinical data such as demographics, functional class, underlying disease, organ involvement, laboratory tests and current treatment were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 321 patients were enrolled during the 2-year study period from 2008 to 2010. The mean age of the patients at registration was 51.9 years and 87.5% were female. Most patients were diagnosed by echocardiography and only 24 patients (7.5%) underwent cardiac catheterization. Exertional dyspnea was present in 63.6% of patients and 31.8% were New York Heart Association class III or IV. Among the patients, systemic lupus erythematosus accounted for 35.3%, systemic sclerosis 28.3%, rheumatoid arthritis 7.8%, overlap syndrome 9.0%, and mixed connective tissue disease 5.9%. There were no significant differences in hemodynamics, functional class, diffusing capacity and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels between the disease subgroups. Treatments consisted of calcium antagonists (57.0%), endothelin antagonists (32.7%), prostanoids (27.1%), phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (14.3%) and combinations (37.4%).

CONCLUSION

Compared with previous studies, the results showed some differences: underlying diseases, functional status and treatments. This may be due to differences in ethnic background and diagnostic methods of our study.

Validation of the pulmonary hypertension connection equation for survival prediction in pulmonary arterial hypertension

OBJECTIVE

The pulmonary hypertension connection (PHC) equation predicts contemporary survival in idiopathic, heritable, and anorexigen-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The aim of this study is to validate the PHC equation in a prospective PAH population cohort and compare its predictability with the French equation.

METHODS

We compared the rates of actual survival in patients prospectively followed for up to 3.5 years in four double-blind, randomized trials and their open-label extension studies with predicted survival calculated using the PHC equation [(P(t) = e((-A(x,y,z)t)), A(x,y,z) = e((-1.270-0.0148x + 0.0402y - 0.361z)), where P(t) is the probability of survival, t the time interval in years, x the mean pulmonary artery pressure, y the mean right atrial pressure, and z the cardiac index] and the French equation in patients with idiopathic, heritable, and anorexigen-associated PAH (n = 449).

RESULTS

Mean age was 44 ± 15 years, 77% were women, and 80% had World Health Organization (WHO) functional class III/IV symptoms. The mean 6-min walk distance (6MWD) was 354 ± 95 m. The baseline hemodynamics were as follows: mean right atrial pressure 10 ± 6 mm Hg, mean pulmonary artery pressure 59 ± 15 mm Hg, and cardiac output 4.1 ± 1.5 L/min. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year Kaplan-Meier survival rates were 89%, 80%, and 70%, respectively; the nonadjusted survival rates were 91%, 87%, and 84%, respectively. The expected survival predicted by both the PHC and the French equations was similar to the actual observed Kaplan-Meier survival and was within its 95% confidence limits. The PHC equation also performed well when used in patients with WHO functional class III/IV, cardiac output < 4 L/min, or 6MWD < 380 m.

CONCLUSION

Risk prediction equations (PHC and French) accurately predicted survival and may be useful for risk estimation in patients with idiopathic, heritable, and anorexigen-associated PAH in large cohort studies. Their use for survival prediction for individual patients needs further study.