The right ventricular (RV) systolic function is a key determinant of outcome in patients with pulmonary hypertension and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance. As the pulmonary artery pressure and vascular resistance increase (i.e. RV afterload) in these patients, so does the right ventricular contractility in an attempt to maintain cardiac output. This is response of a ventricle to its afterload is termed ventriculo-arterial (VA) coupling. However, there is a limit to this increase in contractility after which VA uncoupling occurs ultimately leading to decrease cardiac output and right ventricular failure. The accepted gold standard for measurement of VA coupling is the ratio of the end systolic ventricular elastance (Ees) to the end systolic arterial elastance (Ea) measured invasively via high fidelity conductance catheters during cardiac catheterization. In this study, the aim is to devise a non-invasive scoring system that can identify VA uncoupling in patients with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance using echocardiography, cardiac MRI, cardiopulmonary exercise testing and brain natriuretic peptide levels. The hypothesis is that a group of morphologic and functional variables obtained noninvasively can differentiate an RV with VA coupling from that with VA uncoupling.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
65
Subjects will undergo clinically indicated investigations and tests. The research part of the study is measuring the VA coupling using high fidelity catheters. That is expected to increase the duration of the cardiac catheterization for 30 minutes.
Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Program
San Francisco, California, United States
RECRUITINGUniversity of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
RECRUITINGIdentify echocardiographic measurements of right ventricular systolic function and pulmonary blood flow and their cutoff values contemporaneous that can identify VA uncoupling
Yes/No result: Can echocardiographic measurements allow non-invasive identification of VA uncoupling (defined as Ees/Ea \<0.805). Three ratios: tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion to the pulmonary artery acceleration time, right ventricular free wall strain to the pulmonary artery acceleration time and, right ventricular fractional area change to the pulmonary artery acceleration time.
Time frame: within one week of measurement of ventriculo-arterial coupling ratio during cardiac catheterization
Identify cMRI measurements of right ventricular systolic function and pulmonary blood flow and their cutoff values contemporaneous that can identify VA uncoupling.
Yes/No result: Can cMRI measurements allow non-invasive identification of VA uncoupling (defined as Ees/Ea \<0.805). Two ratios: right ventricular ejection fraction to right ventricular end systolic volume and right ventricular ejection fraction to pulmonary artery acceleration time (by echocardiography).
Time frame: within one week of measurement of ventriculo-arterial coupling ratio during cardiac catheterization
Identify 6-minute walk distance cutoff that can identify VA uncoupling
Yes/No: Can 6-minute walk distance identify VA uncoupling (defined as Ees/Es\<0.805)
Time frame: within one week of measurement of ventriculo-arterial coupling ratio during cardiac catheterization
Identify brain natriuretic peptide cutoff value that can identify VA uncoupling
Yes/No: Can brain natriuretic peptide identify VA uncoupling (defined as Ees/Es\<0.805)
Time frame: within one week of measurement of ventriculo-arterial coupling ratio during cardiac catheterization
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