Pre-transplant reversible pulmonary hypertension predicts higher risk for mortality after cardiac transplantation.

Butler J, Stankewicz MA, Wu J, Chomsky DB, Howser RL, Khadim G, Davis SF, Pierson RN, Wilson JR. Pre-transplant reversible pulmonary hypertension predicts higher risk for mortality after cardiac transplantation. The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation. 2005 Feb 1; 24(2):170-7.

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Pre-transplant fixed pulmonary hypertension is associated with higher post-transplant mortality. In this study, we assessed the significance of pre-transplant reversible pulmonary hypertension in patients undergoing cardiac transplantation. METHODS: Overall, we studied 182 patients with baseline normal pulmonary pressures or reversible pulmonary hypertension, defined as a decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) to < or = 2.5 Wood units (WU), who underwent cardiac transplantation. Multiple recipient and donor characteristics were assessed to identify independent predictors of mortality. RESULTS: The average duration of follow-up was 42 +/- 28 months. Forty patients (22%) died during the follow-up period. Baseline hemodynamics for alive vs dead patients were as follows: pulmonary artery systolic (PAS) 42 +/- 15 vs 52 +/- 15 mm Hg; PA diastolic 21 +/- 9 vs 25 +/- 9 mm Hg; PA mean 28 +/- 11 vs 35 +/- 10 mm Hg; transpulmonary gradient (TPG) 9 +/- 4 vs 11 +/- 7 mm Hg (all p < 0.05); total pulmonary resistance 7.7 +/- 4.8 vs 8.8 +/- 3.2 WU (p = 0.08); and PVR 2.3 +/- 1.5 vs 2.9 +/- 1.6 WU (p = 0.06). In an unadjusted analysis, patients with PAS > 50 mm Hg had a higher risk of death (odds ratio [OR] 5.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.46 to 19.84 as compared with PAS < or = 30 mm Hg). There was no significant difference in survival among patients with baseline PVR < 2.5, 2.5 to 4.0 or > 4.0 WU, but patients with TPG > or = 16 had a higher risk of mortality (OR 4.93, 95% CI 1.84 to 13.17). PAS pressure was an independent predictor of mortality (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.06). Recipient body mass index, history of sternotomy; and donor ischemic time were the other independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: Pre-transplant pulmonary hypertension, even when reversible to a PVR of < or = 2.5 WU, is associated with a higher mortality post-transplant.