The chief regulator of resistance in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is the small arteries. In the heart, the invasive measurement of the resistance of the small arteries has been shownto be safe, easy, reliable, and prognostic. This study is intended to translate prior work in heart arteries to the PAH space and invasively measure the resistance of the small arteries of the lung (pulmonary index of microcirculatory resistance \[PIMR\]) and the coronary artery supplying the right ventricle (acute marginal of the RCA; RV-IMR). Importantly, these measurements will be made during standard of care cardiac catheterizations (right heart catheterization \[RHC\] +/- left heart catheterization). The correlation between these new indices and the standard ones measured during RHC typically used to determine the severity of pulmonary hypertension will be analyzed. In addition, among newly diagnosed patients, the study will evaluate how these indices change 6 months after starting treatment. Finally, the association of these indices with clinical outcomes at 1 year will be assessed. The findings from this study may deliver an immediate impact to patient care by identifying a new metric to help better identify those who may benefit from a more intensive, personalized treatment regimen.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
22
PIMR measurement involves placing a coronary pressure wire in the pulmonary arteries and making pressure/time measurements during maximal flow down the artery.
RV-IMR measurement involves placing a coronary pressure wire in the acute marginal branch of the right coronary artery and making pressure/time measurements during maximal flow down the artery.
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, United States
PAH hospitalization or all-cause mortality at 1 year
The primary outcome is the composite of PAH hospitalization or all-cause mortality at 1 year.
Time frame: 1 year
PIMR change from baseline
PressureWire advanced to distal third of segmental pulmonary artery (PA) for measurement of pulmonary hemodynamics. The derivation of IMR involves the application of Ohm's law (V=IR) to the coronary microcirculatory circuit, where the relationship between resistance (R) = IMR, voltage (V) = pressure (P), and current (I) = flow (Q) can be expressed as follows: IMR = ∆P/Q. ∆P = the change in pressure across the microvasculature (mean distal coronary artery pressure \[Pd\] - coronary venous pressure (Pv); Pv is typically disregarded because it is negligible relative to Pd. Based on the principles of thermodilution, flow is inversely proportion to mean transit time (Q \~ 1/Tmn). Lastly, the minimal achievable resistance occurs during maximal hyperemic flow when all available microvessels have theoretically been recruited. Hence, the calculation of IMR simplifies to the following formula: IMR = Pd (pulmonary artery) x TmnHyp.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months only if repeat RHC as standard of care
RV-IMR
PressureWire advanced to distal third of acute marginal branch of the right coronary artery (RCA) for measurement of pulmonary hemodynamics. The derivation of IMR involves the application of Ohm's law (V=IR) to the coronary microcirculatory circuit, where the relationship between resistance (R) = IMR, voltage (V) = pressure (P), and current (I) = flow (Q) can be expressed as follows: IMR = ∆P/Q. ∆P = the change in pressure across the microvasculature (mean distal coronary artery pressure \[Pd\] - coronary venous pressure (Pv); Pv is typically disregarded because it is negligible relative to Pd. Based on the principles of thermodilution, flow is inversely proportion to mean transit time (Q \~ 1/Tmn). Lastly, the minimal achievable resistance occurs during maximal hyperemic flow when all available microvessels have theoretically been recruited. Hence, the calculation of IMR simplifies to the following formula: IMR = Pd (RCA marginal branch) x TmnHyp.
Time frame: Baseline
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