Comprehensive Noninvasive Evaluation of Right Ventricle-Pulmonary Circulation Axis in Pediatric Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension

Prognostic value of non-invasive right ventricle-pulmonary artery coupling in patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with left heart disease

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the prognostic significance of non-invasive right ventricle-pulmonary artery coupling in patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with left heart disease (PH-LHD) and identify the relevant clinical factors involved.

METHODS

A cohort of 362 patients diagnosed with PH-LHD was included in this study. Plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Echocardiography was employed to screen routine ultrasound parameters. The tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/pulmonary artery systolic pressure (TAPSE/PASP) and S'/PASP ratios were calculated. Participants were categorized into two groups based on the TAPSE/PASP ratio: moderate-to-severe and mild uncoupling groups. Both groups underwent routine follow-up for a period of 3 to 15 months. Clinical events included all-cause mortality, heart failure rehospitalization, and stroke. Clinical events were documented, and a multivariate Cox regression model evaluated the correlation between the TAPSE/PASP ratio and prognosis. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was also conducted.

RESULTS

The moderate-to-severe uncoupling group exhibited significantly higher proportions of males; individuals with a history of smoking, valvular disease, diabetes mellitus, or stroke; and elevated levels of PASP, right ventricular diameter (RVD), left ventricular diameter (LVD), left ventricular end-diastolic (LVED), and lg (NT-proBNP) compared to the mild uncoupling group (P < 0.05). Conversely, parameters such as age, TAPSE, S', S' /PASP, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were significantly lower in the moderate-to-severe uncoupling group compared to the mild uncoupling group (P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that TAPSE/PASP (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.150, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.023, 0.968], P = 0.046) was a protective factor for the recurrence of clinical events. In contrast, LVED (HR = 1.301, 95% CI (1.004, 1.059), P = 0.024) and lg (NT-proBNP) (HR = 1.870, 95%CI [1.304, 2.682], P = 0.001) were independent risk factors for the recurrence of clinical events. KaplanMeier survival analysis demonstrated that the mild uncoupling group exhibited a significantly higher overall survival rate compared to the moderate-to-severe uncoupling group (Log Rank P = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

The TAPSE/PASP ratio is a predictive marker for clinical outcomes in patients with PH-LHD.

Echocardiographic strain imaging in the pediatric heart: clinical value and utility in decision making

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE)-derived measures of myocardial mechanics, referred to herewithin as strain measurements, directly assess myocardial contractility and provide a nuanced assessment of ventricular function. This review provides an overview of strain measurements and their current clinical value and utility in decision making in pediatric cardiology.

RECENT FINDINGS

Strain measurements are advancing understanding of how cardiac dysfunction occurs in children with acquired and congenital heart disease (CHD). Global strain measurements can detect early changes in cardiac function and are reliable methods of serially monitoring systolic function in children. Global strain measurements are increasingly reported in echocardiographic assessment of ventricular function alongside ejection fraction. Research is increasingly focused on how strain measurements can help improve clinical management, risk stratification, and prognostic insight. Although more research is needed, preliminary studies provide hope that there will be clinical benefit for strain in pediatric cardiology management.

SUMMARY

Strain measurements provide a more detailed assessment of ventricular function than conventional measures of echocardiographic functional assessment. Strain measurements are increasingly being used to advance understanding of normal and abnormal myocardial contractility, to increase sensitivity to detect early cardiac dysfunction, and to improve prognostic management in children with acquired and CHD.

Cardiac Dysfunction in Neonatal HIE Is Associated with Increased Mortality and Brain Injury by MRI

OBJECTIVE

Describe the association between cardiac dysfunction and death or moderate-to-severe abnormalities on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in neonates undergoing therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study in neonates with moderate or severe HIE undergoing therapeutic hypothermia between 2008 and 2017. Primary outcome was death or moderate-to-severe brain injury using the Barkovich score. Conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiography measures were extracted from available echocardiograms to quantify right (RV) and left (LV) ventricular functions.

RESULTS

A total of 166 newborns underwent therapeutic hypothermia of which 53 (36.5%) had echocardiography performed. Ten (19%) died prior to hospital discharge, and 11 (26%) had moderate-to-severe brain injury. There was no difference in chronologic age at echocardiography between the normal and adverse outcome groups (22 [±19] vs. 28 [±21] hours, p = 0.35). Cardiac findings in newborns with abnormal outcome included lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) at echocardiography (p = 0.004) and decreased tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (a marker of RV systolic function; p = 0.01), while the ratio of systolic pulmonary artery (PA) pressure to systolic BP indicated isosystemic pressures (>2/3 systemic) in both groups. A multilogistic regression analysis, adjusting for weight and seizure status, indicated an association between abnormal outcome and LV function by longitudinal strain, as well as by ejection fraction.

CONCLUSION

Newborns who died or had moderate-to-severe brain injury had a higher incidence of cardiac dysfunction but similar PA pressures when compared with those who survived with mild or no MRI abnormalities.

KEY POINTS

· Newborns with HIE with functional LV/RV dysfunction are at risk for death or brain injury.. · All neonates with HIE had elevated pulmonary pressure, but neonates with poor outcome had RV dysfunction.. · When evaluating newborns with HIE by echocardiography, beyond estimation of pulmonary pressure, it is important to assess biventricular function..

Clinical Usefulness of Right Ventricle-Pulmonary Artery Coupling in Cardiovascular Disease

Right ventricular-pulmonary artery coupling (RV-PA coupling) refers to the relationship between RV contractility and RV afterload. Normal RV-PA coupling is maintained only when RV function and pulmonary vascular resistance are appropriately matched. RV-PA uncoupling occurs when RV contractility cannot increase to match RV afterload, resulting in RV dysfunction and right heart failure. RV-PA coupling plays an important role in the pathophysiology and progression of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, early and accurate evaluation of RV-PA coupling is of great significance for a patient's condition assessment, clinical decision making, risk stratification, and prognosis judgment. RV-PA coupling can be assessed by using invasive or noninvasive approaches. The aim of this review was to summarize the pathological mechanism and evaluation methods of RV-PA coupling, the advantages and disadvantages of each method, and the application value of RV-PA coupling in various cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiopulmonary Function Abnormalities in Cohort of Adults following Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia as Preterm Infants

OBJECTIVE

This study was aimed to describe the cardiopulmonary profiles of adult patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), comparing them to normative adult values.

STUDY DESIGN

This study presents a retrospective chart review of all BPD patients followed in the adult BPD clinic, identified from institutional and archive databases, born preterm at ≤33 weeks of estimated gestational age (EGA) between January 1980 and December 2000.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients with BPD (26.4 ± 2.7 weeks of EGA) were included. Average age at follow-up was 19 years. Majority (61.4%) of the patients had a diagnosis of asthma. Mean spirometry values were: first second of forced expiration (FEV1) 74.1%, forced vital capacity (FVC) 80.7%, and FEV1/FVC 82.5%. Echocardiography (ECHO) images were reviewed, left ventricular (LV) structure and performance did not differ between obstructive and nonobstructive pulmonary function test (PFT) groups, but values of LV longitudinal strain were 4.8% lower than expected normal for adults. Patients with obstructive PFT had additional decreased right ventricular (RV) function by ECHO.

CONCLUSION

BPD patients in this study were found to have a burden of cardiorespiratory alterations that persisted into adulthood, with RV performance abnormalities found among patients with obstructive PFT.

KEY POINTS

· BPD patients born at extremes of prematurity have cardiorespiratory alterations in adulthood.. · Among patients with obstructive lung function, subtle cardiac performance abnormalities were found.. · Future directions should include systematic follow-up of premature newborns with BPD..

Comprehensive Echocardiographic Assessment of Ventricular Function and Pulmonary Pressure in the Neonatal Omphalocele Population

OBJECTIVE

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been described in the neonatal omphalocele population. This study was aimed to describe cardiac function and PH severity using echocardiography in newborns with giant omphalocele (GO) and with non-GO and determine if right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is associated with mortality.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective, single-center analysis of first echocardiography among neonatal omphalocele patients born between 2004 and 2017 was conducted. Multivariate logistic and univariate Cox's regression was constructed to measure hazard ratio (HR) for death outcome.

RESULTS

There were 32 newborns, of whom 18 were GO and 7 died. GO had increased systolic pulmonary arterial to systolic systemic blood pressure ratio (97% [isosystemic] vs. 73% [three-fourths systemic] p = 0.03). RV performance parameters (tricuspid annular plane excursion, HR = 0.40; fractional area change, HR = 0.90; and RV peak global longitudinal strain, HR = 1.39) were associated with mortality. These RV performance parameters remained associated in a multiple logistic regression accounting for gestational age and GO status. The overall population had abnormal eccentricity index and pulmonary artery acceleration time to RV ejection time ratio, two markers of PH.

CONCLUSION

Patients with omphalocele have increased pulmonary pressure, with GO being worse than non-GO. RV dysfunction at initial echocardiography was significantly associated with mortality.

Preoperative echocardiographic parameters predict primary graft dysfunction following pediatric lung transplantation

The importance of preoperative cardiac function in pediatric lung transplantation is unknown. We hypothesized that worse preoperative right ventricular (RV) systolic and worse left ventricular (LV) diastolic function would be associated with a higher risk of primary graft dysfunction grade 3 (PGD 3) between 48 and 72 hours. We performed a single center, retrospective pilot study of children (<18 years) who had echocardiograms <1 year prior to lung transplantation between 2006 and 2019. Conventional and strain echocardiography parameters were measured, and PGD was graded. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves and logistic regression were performed. Forty-one patients were included; 14 (34%) developed PGD 3 and were more likely to have pulmonary hypertension (PH) as the indication for transplant (P = .005). PGD 3 patients had worse RV global longitudinal strain (P = .01), RV free wall strain (FWS) (P = .003), RV fractional area change (P = .005), E/e' (P = .01) and lateral e' velocity (P = .004) but not tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (P = .61). RV FWS (AUROC 0.79, 95% CI 0.62-0.95) and lateral e' velocity (AUROC 0.87, 95% CI 0.68-1.00) best discriminated PGD 3 development and showed the strongest association with PGD 3 (RV FWS OR 3.87 [95% CI 1.59-9.43], P = .003; lateral e' velocity OR 0.10 [95% CI 0.01-0.70], P = .02). These associations remained when separately adjusting for age, weight, primary PH diagnosis, ischemic time, and bypass time. In this pilot study, worse preoperative RV systolic and worse LV diastolic function were associated with PGD 3 and may be modifiable recipient risk factors in pediatric lung transplantation.

Update on Perioperative Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Management

Pediatric pulmonary hypertension is a disease that has many etiologies and can present anytime during childhood. Its newly revised hemodynamic definition follows that of adult pulmonary hypertension: a mean pulmonary artery pressure >20 mmHg. However, the pediatric definition stipulates that the elevated pressure must be present after the age of three months. The definition encompasses many different etiologies, and diagnosis often involves a combination of noninvasive and invasive testing. Treatment often is extrapolated from adult studies or based on expert opinion. Moreover, although general anesthesia may be required for pediatric patients with pulmonary hypertension, it poses certain risks. A thoughtful, multidisciplinary approach is needed to deliver excellent perioperative care.

Update on noninvasive imaging of right ventricle dysfunction in pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive disease affecting patients across the life span. The pathophysiology primarily involves the pulmonary vasculature and right ventricle (RV), but eventually affects the left ventricular (LV) function as well. Safe, accurate imaging modalities are critical for diagnosis, serial monitoring, and tailored therapy. While cardiac catheterization remains the conventional modality for establishing diagnosis and serial monitoring, noninvasive imaging has gained considerable momentum in providing accurate assessment of the entire RV-pulmonary axis. In this state-of-the-art review, we will discuss the most recent developments in echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography in PH evaluation from pediatric to adult population.