P1397 Rehabilitation in pulmonary arterial hypertension: REHAB-HTP

CONCLUSION

In this preliminary study, cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation led to an improved quality of life and exercise capacity in PAH. The increased in RV contractile reserve post-rehabilitation might explain, in association with the peripheral muscular effects of exercise training, the clinical benefits of rehabilitation in PAH.

Abstract P1397 Figure. echography peak/rest in a PAH patient

P941 Evaluation of right ventricular contractile reserve with exercise stress echocardiography

METHODS

We prospectively included 12 patients with PAH and 12 healthy volunteers. An ESE (using tilt-table ergometer) was performed in all patients to assess RV function at rest and under peak exercise. Changes in these parameters during exercise were calculated to quantify the RV contractile reserve. 3D RV function as well as peak systolic strain, pulmonary pressures, TAPSE, pulmonary TVI and pulmonary output (using the right ventricular outflow tract diameter) were assessed in all patients.

RESULTS

Our patient group was composed by PAH patients, 61.5 ± 14.8 years; mean age of our control group was 29.33 ± 5.5 years. PAH patients achieved an exercise with a mean workload of 69.17 ± 26.4 Watts. There was no complication after the exercise test in all patients. Change in TAPSE was not significantly different between patients and controls (p = 0.17), whereas change in pulmonary TVI, pulmonary output and RV peak systolic strain was highly discriminant (respectively p = 0.03, p = 0.009 and p = 0.0009). Regarding RV contractile reserve parameters, RV end-systolic pressure area ratio (peak/rest) was not statistically different between controls and patients (p = 0.14) whereas change in TAPSE/sPAP, RV peak strain/sPAP, 3D RV EF/sPAP were significantly different (p = 0.005, p= 0.0008, p = 0004).

CONCLUSION

Changes in pulmonary output, RV peak systolic strain as well as changes in TAPSE/sPAP but mainly RV peak strain/sPAP, 3D RV EF/sPAP represent consistent and feasible tools to assess RV contractile reserve.

echocardiographic parameters PAH (n = 12) Healthy Controls (n = 12) p value sPAP at rest (mmHg) 40.91 ± 10.7 15.42 ± 4.1 <0.001 sPAP at peak (mmHg) 82.50 ± 21.7 42.50 ± 17.8 <0.001 TAPSE at rest/sPAP at rest (mm/mmHg) 0.62 ± 0.2 1.72 ± 0.6 <0.001 TAPSE at peak /sPAP at peak 0.36 ± 0.1 0.80 ± 0.2 <0.001 ΔStrain (%) 3.43 ± 3.1 8.08 ± 2.8 <0.001 Δ(peak Strain/sPAP) -0.17 ± 0.2 -0.77 ± 0.4 <0.001 Δpulmonary TVI (cm) 3.88 ± 4.0 7.46 ± 3.5 0.03 Δ(RVEF/sPAP) -0.34 ± 0.4 -2.06 ± 1.7 <0.001

Abstract P941 Figure. echography (rest/peak) PAH patient