2020 KSC/KATRD guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension: Executive summary

Diagnostic Value of Serum Galectin-3 Binding Protein Level in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) still lacks effective biomarkers to assist in its diagnosis and prognosis. Galectin-3 binding protein (Gal-3BP) plays a role in immune and inflammatory diseases.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate Gal-3BP as a prognostic and predictive factor in patients with PAH.

METHODS

From January 2017 to December 2019, we enrolled 167 consecutive PAH patients and 58 healthy controls. Right heart catheterization (RHC) was used to diagnose PAH. Serum Gal-3BP levels were measured by high-sensitivity human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

Serum Gal-3BP levels in the PAH group were significantly higher compared with the control group (4.87±2.09 vs 2.22±0.86 μg/mL, p<0.001). Gal-3BP level was correlated with several hemodynamic parameters obtained from RHC (p<0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that Gal-3BP was a risk factor for PAH (odds ratio (OR)=2.947, 95% CI: 1.821-4.767, p<0.001). The optimal cut-off value of serum Gal-3BP level for predicting PAH was 2.89 μg/mL (area under the curve (AUC)=0.860, 95 % CI: 0.811-0.910, p<0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that Gal-3BP levels above the median (4.87 μg/mL) were associated with an increased risk of death in patients with PAH (hazard ratio (HR)=8.868, 95 % CI: 3.631-21.65, p<0.0001). Cox multivariate risk regression analysis showed that Gal-3BP was a risk factor for death in PAH patients (HR=2.779, 95 % CI: 1.823-4.237, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Serum Gal-3BP levels were increased in patients with PAH, and levels of Gal-3BP were associated with the severity of PAH. Gal-3BP might have predictive value for the diagnosis and prognosis of PAH.

Exercise-induced desaturation during a six-minute walk test is associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension

BACKGROUND

The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is an established exercise test for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), affording insight into both exercise intolerance and overall prognosis. Despite the widespread application of the 6MWT, the prognostic implications of exercise-induced desaturation (EID) during this test has been inadequately studied in PAH patients. Thus, we evaluated the occurrence of EID and its prognostic significance in PAH patients.

METHODS

We analyzed PAH patients in a single-center cohort from April 2016 to March 2021. EID was defined as a reduction in oxygen saturation exceeding 4% from the baseline or to below 90% at any point during the test.

RESULTS

We analyzed 20 PAH patients in this cohort, primarily consisting of 16 females with an average age of 48.4 ± 13.3 years. Among them, ten exhibited EID. Baseline characteristics, echocardiographic data and right heart catheterization data were similar between the two groups. However, total distance (354.3 ± 124.4 m vs. 485.4 ± 41.4 m, P = 0.019) and peak oxygen uptake (12.9 ± 3.2 mL/kg⋅min vs. 16.4 ± 3.6 mL/kg⋅min, P = 0.019) were significantly lower in the EID group. During the total follow-up duration of 51.9 ± 25.7 months, 17 patients had at least one adverse clinical event (2 deaths, 1 lung transplantation, and 13 hospital admissions). The presence of EID was associated with poor clinical outcome (hazard ratio = 6.099, 95% confidence interval = 1.783-20.869, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

During the 6MWT, EID was observed in a half of PAH patients and emerged as a significant prognostic marker for adverse clinical events.

Risk Stratification in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Update and Perspectives

Risk stratification in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is crucial in assessing patient prognosis. It serves a prominent role in everyday patient care and can be determined using several validated risk assessment scores worldwide. The recently published 2022 European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines underline the importance of risk stratification not only at baseline but also during follow-up. Achieving a low-risk status has now become the therapeutic goal, emphasising the importance of personalised therapy. The application of these guidelines is also important in determining the timing for lung transplantation referral. In this review, we summarise the most relevant prognostic factors of PAH as well as the parameters used in PAH risk scores and their evolution in the guidelines over the last decade. Finally, we describe the central role that risk stratification plays in the current guidelines not only in European countries but also in Asian countries.

Pulmonary Hypertension Definition, Classification, and Epidemiology in Asia

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is caused by a range of conditions and is important to recognize as it is associated with increased mortality. Pulmonary arterial hypertension refers to a group of PH subtypes affecting the distal pulmonary arteries for which effective treatment is available. The hemodynamic definition of pulmonary arterial hypertension has recently changed which may lead to greater case recognition and earlier treatment. The prevalence of specific PH etiologies may differ depending on geographic region. PH caused by left heart disease is the most common cause of PH worldwide. In Asia, there is greater proportion of congenital heart disease- and connective tissue disease- (especially systemic lupus erythematosus) related PH relative to the West. This review summarizes the definition, classification, and epidemiology of PH as it pertains to Asia.