Impact of Medical Therapy on Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients With Congestive Heart Failure Awaiting Cardiac Transplantation

Pulmonary artery (PA) hypertension in transplant recipients increases mortality from right heart failure following heart transplantation. We examined the impact of long-term medical therapy on the severity of PA hypertension in patients with end-stage congestive heart failure on a transplant waiting list. The initial and final, quarterly right heart catheterization data on 60 patients (50 men, aged 50 ± 9 years, New York Heart Association class III to IV) awaiting heart transplantation were analyzed and the patients divided into 2 groups: group A, those with persistent elevated systolic PA pressures throughout the 10-month follow-up (n = 31 of 60), and group B, those who had any decrease in systolic PA pressure during that period (n = 29 of 60). Group A had no change in hemodynamics. Group B had a significant decrease (± SD) in right atrial (11 ± 7 to 5 ± 4 mm Hg), PA (57 ± 11 to 37 ± 11 mm Hg), and PA wedge (25 ± 9 to 14 ± 7 mm Hg) pressures, with increases in cardiac output (3.8 ± 0.9 to 4.7 ± 1.1 L/min) and ejection fraction (18 ± 6% to 27 ± 11%) (p <0.05). The combined end point of transplant or death occurred in 28 of 31 patients (90%) in group A versus 14 of 29 (50%) in group B (p = 0.0004). Ischemic etiology was present in 71% of patients in group A versus 68% with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in group B (p = 0.003). The reversibility of PA hypertension rather than its initial severity is predictive of patient clinical outcome. Idiopathic, as opposed to ischemic, cardiomyopathy responds better to medical therapy. (Am J Cardiol 1996;78:440–443)