Screening and diagnostic modalities for connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension: a systematic review

Screening for the early detection of pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients with systemic sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of long-term outcomes

BACKGROUND

Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma, SSc) is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease characterised by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs and vasculopathy. One of the major contributors to mortality in patients with SSc is pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). International recommendations advise annual screening for the early detection of PAH in asymptomatic patients with SSc.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate by systematic review current measures employed for screening for PAH. To summarise by meta-analysis the current evidence for long-term outcomes of screening for PAH in SSc.

METHODS

Manuscripts published until 12th March 2019 were identified through searching Medline, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Database of Systematic Reviews. Eligible studies included abstracts or full reports investigating patients with SSc undergoing screening by any protocol to detect PAH. Risk of bias was assessed with reference to the QUADAS-2 tool.

RESULTS

The review resulted in 580 unique citations with 15 manuscripts included for final systematic review of screening methods, and six for meta-analysis. The systematic review demonstrated that there are varying protocols for screening for PAH. Screened populations were reported to have better risk stratification parameters at PAH diagnosis. Meta-analysis showed improved survival in patients with SSc-PAH diagnosed as a result of screening. There were trends towards having better risk stratification parameters at PAH diagnosis in those screened, although not all of these were statistically significant.

LIMITATIONS

There are no randomised controlled trials of screening for PAH in patients with SSc and the evidence presented in this review is derived from publications of registry data, cross-sectional and cohort studies.

CONCLUSIONS

This review demonstrates long-term benefit through the systematic screening of patients with SSc of varying disease duration for the early detection of PAH. Screened cohorts had improved survival, and were more likely to have better prognostic factors at the time of diagnosis with PAH.

Structured report for chest high-resolution computed tomography in patients with connective tissue disease: Impact on the report quality as perceived by referring clinicians

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the impact on perceived report quality of referring rheumatologists for a chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) structured report (SR) template for patients with connective tissue disease (CTD), compared to the traditional narrative report (NR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively considered 123 HRCTs in patients with CTD. Three radiologists, blinded to the original NRs they wrote during clinical routine, re-reported each HRCT using an SR dedicated template. We then divided all NR-SR couples into three groups (41 HRCT each). Each group was evaluated by one of three rheumatologists (R1, R2, R3), who expressed their perceived report quality for the respective pools of NRs and SRs in terms of completeness, clarity (both on a 10-points scale), and clinical relevance (on a 5-points scale). The Wilcoxon test and the McNemar test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

For each rheumatologist, SR received higher ratings compared to NR for completeness (median ratings: R1, 10 vs. 7; R2, 10 vs. 8; R3, 10 vs. 6, all p < 0.0001), clarity (median ratings: R1, 10 vs. 7; R2, 10 vs. 8; R3, 10 vs. 7, all p < 0.0001), and clinical relevance (median ratings: R1, 5 vs. 4; R2, 5 vs. 4; R3, 5 vs. 1, all p < 0.0001). After rating dichotomization, the use of SR led to a significant increase (p < 0.01) in completeness, clarity, and clinical relevance as compared to NR, except for clarity as perceived by R2 (p = 1).

CONCLUSION

Referring rheumatologists' perceived report quality for structured reporting of HRCT in patients with CTD was superior to narrative reporting.

Screening for pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis: A systematic literature review

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) carries a high morbidity and mortality burden in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). Therefore, PAH screening and early detection are pivotal. A systematic literature review (SLR) to search for all screening tools and modalities for SSc-PAH was performed in reference to right heart catheterization as diagnostic gold standard. Papers from 2 previously published SLRs and derived from a systematic search on Pubmed, EMBASE, Web of Science for papers published from 03/10/2017 to 31/12/2018 were manually included. A total of 199 papers were reviewed and 32 were extracted, with a low bias risk according to QUADAS2. Echocardiography, pulmonary function tests, clinical features and serum biomarkers were the most frequently tools used for screening, with different parameters combined in a variable fashion, as single item or as part of composite algorithms. Among the composite algorithms, the DETECT score, ESC/ERS 2009 or 2015 guidelines, ASIG and ITINER-air algorithms were the most commonly used in a wide range of patients. In different cohorts, DETECT and ASIG showed higher sensitivity and negative predictive value than ESC/ERS 2009. In conclusion, the literature shows echocardiography as the leading screening tool for SSc-PAH. In particular, systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) and tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV), both as single items or part of composite algorithms, including also serum biomarkers, clinical and functional items, are the most frequent parameters evaluated.

Predictive value of pulmonary function testing in the evaluation of pulmonary hypertension in sarcoidosis

Background: In sarcoidosis patients, pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Early identification of sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension (SAPH) has substantial clinical implications. While a number of pulmonary function testing (PFT) variables have been associated with SAPH, the optimal use of PFT’s in screening for SAPH is unknown. Objectives: To examine the predictive value of PFT’s for echocardiographic PH in a cohort of sarcoidosis patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with sarcoidosis from a single center over a period of five years. All consecutive adult patients with a diagnosis of biopsy-proven sarcoidosis (determined by review of the medical chart) who underwent PFT and echocardiographic testing were included. Echocardiographic risk of PH (either intermediate or high) was determined by the presence of echocardiographic PH signs and tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity. Data analysis was performed using multivariate logistic regression analysis with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. Results: Of the 156 patients included in the study, 42 (27%) met the criteria for echocardiographic PH. Roughly equal proportions met the criteria for intermediate risk (45%) as did for high risk of PH (55%). The percent predicted of diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (%DLCO) and forced vital capacity (%FVC) were predictive of echocardiographic PH. No other PFT variables outperformed these two markers, and the incorporation of additional PFT variables failed to significantly enhance the model. Conclusions: The %FVC and %DLCO emerged as being predictive of echocardiographic PH in this cohort of biopsy-proven sarcoidosis patients. Potentially reflecting the multifactorial pathogenesis of PH in sarcoidosis, incorporation of other PFT variables failed to enhance screening for PH in this population. (Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2018; 35: 308-316)

Screening for pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a dreaded complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc) that occurs in ∼10% of patients. Most individuals present with severe symptoms, significant functional impairment and severe haemodynamics at diagnosis, and survival after PAH diagnosis is poor. Therefore, early diagnosis through systematic screening of asymptomatic patients has the potential to identify PAH at an early stage. Current evidence suggests that early diagnosis and treatment of PAH in patients with SSc may lead to better clinical outcomes. Annual screening may include echocardiography, but this can miss some patients due to suboptimal visualisation or insufficient tricuspid regurgitation. Other options for screening include the DETECT algorithm or the use of a combination of pulmonary function testing (forced vital capacity/diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide ratio) and N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels. Symptomatic patients, those with an elevated tricuspid regurgitation velocity on echocardiogram with or without secondary echocardiographic features of PAH, and those who screen positive on the DETECT or other pulmonary function test algorithms should undergo right heart catheterisation. Exercise echocardiography or cardiopulmonary exercise testing, nailfold capillaroscopy and molecular biomarkers are promising but, as yet, unproven potential options. Future screening studies should employ systematic catheterisation to define the true predictive values for PAH.

Screening can detect PAH at an early stage of the disease, which permits earlier medical interventions and may improve outcomes in systemic sclerosis patients.bit.ly/2Q5akGu

Isolated DLco/VA reduction in systemic sclerosis patients: a new patient subset?

INTRODUCTION

Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) reduction is the first detectable pulmonary functional test (PFT) change in systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related pulmonary complications. reduction in patients without cardiopulmonary alterations has also been observed; a good characterisation of these patients is lacking. The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics of SSc patients with isolated DLco reduction and compare these patients to SSc patients with DLco reduction with a known cause.

METHODS

SSc patients with DLco < 80% predicted were included and classified into cases (isolated DLco reduction) and controls (DLco reduction in the presence of known pulmonary pathology). SSc clinico-serological data, PFT and echocardiography features were collected and analysed.

RESULTS

From a total SSc cohort of 115 patients, 75 patients were included: 20 cases (26.7%) and 55 controls (73.3%). Cases were predominantly limited skin subset (90% vs 60%, p < 0.001), were anti-centromere antibody (ACA)-positive (95% vs 40%, p < 0.001) and had an infrequent oesophageal involvement (45% vs 74%; p = 0.016). The mean DLco reduction of cases was mild (65.60% ± 10.56). Only 1 out of 20 patients had normal DLco/VA values, and tricuspid regurgitation was more frequent (85% vs 53.8%, p = 0.014).

CONCLUSION

There is a subgroup of SSc patients with mild isolated DLco and DLco/VA reduction, predominantly limited SSc with ACA seropositivity, which could identify a particular SSc subset. We hypothesise that isolated DLco/VA reduction could indicate a pulmonary vascular involvement. Nevertheless, a close follow-up is mandatory, as a pre-PAH situation cannot be excluded.

Update of screening and diagnostic modalities for connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension

OBJECTIVE

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has high morbidity and mortality in connective tissue diseases (CTDs), especially systemic sclerosis (SSc). In this systematic review, we provide an update on screening measures for early detection of PAH in CTD.

METHODS

Manuscripts published between July 2012 and October 2017, which incorporated screening measures to identify patients with PAH by right heart catheterization, were identified. Risk of bias was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool.

RESULTS

The systematic review resulted in 1514 unique citations and 22 manuscripts were included for final review; the majority of manuscripts had a lower risk of bias based on the QUADAS-2 tool. There were 16 SSc cohort studies and 6 case-control studies (SSc 4, SLE 2). Four SSc cohort studies evaluated transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) only. Eight SSc cohort studies evaluated composite measures including ASIG, DETECT, and a combination of tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) and PFT variables. DETECT and ASIG had greater sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) compared to the 2009 ESC/ERS guidelines in different cohorts. The addition of PFT variables, such as DLCO or FVC/ DLCO ratio, to TRV, resulted in greater sensitivity and NPV compared to TRV alone.

CONCLUSION

Current screening for PAH in CTDs is centered on SSc. Data continues to support the use of TTE and provides additional evidence for use of composite measures.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension in the setting of scleroderma is different than in the setting of lupus: A review

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a clinical syndrome that is subdivided into five groups per the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, based largely on hemodynamic and pathophysiologic criteria. WHO Group 1 PH, termed pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is a clinically progressive disease that can eventually lead to right heart failure and death, and it is hemodynamically characterized by pre-capillary PH and increased pulmonary vascular resistance in the absence of elevated left ventricular filling pressures. PAH can be idiopathic, heritable, or associated with a variety of conditions. Connective tissue diseases make up the largest portion of these associated conditions, most commonly systemic sclerosis (SSc), followed by mixed connective tissue disease and systemic lupus erythematous. These etiologies (namely SSc and Lupus) have been grouped together as connective tissue disease-associated PAH, however emerging evidence suggests they differ in pathogenesis, clinical course, prognosis, and treatment response. This review highlights the differences between SSc-PAH and Lupus-PAH. After introducing the diagnosis, screening, and pathobiology of PAH, we discuss connective tissue disease-associated PAH as a group, and then explore SSc-PAH and SLE-PAH separately, comparing these 2 PAH etiologies.

Assessment for Pulmonary Artery Hypertension Using Clinical and Echocardiographic Criteria in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Prognosis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) is affected by pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH).

METHODS

Among 202 patients (mean age: 46.1 ± 13.3 years; 177 women) with SSc, those with a tricuspid regurgitation (TR) jet maximal velocity at 2D-echocardiography (2DE) < 2.8m/second were not considered at high risk for PAH, whereas those with a TR velocity >3m/second or between 2.8 and 3m/second and associated with dyspnea were.

RESULTS

Among 22 patients at risk, 15 (mean age: 50.4 ± 14.3 years) had definite precapillary PAH on right heart catheterization (RHC). The delay period between recognitions of SSc and PAH was 12.9 ± 5.2 years. Dyspnea was present in all 15 patients, 11 (73.3%) being in the New York Heart Association class III or IV. The 2DE showed normal left ventricular geometrics and function (n = 15), enlargement of the right-sided cardiac chambers (n = 12), increased pulmonary arterial resistances with a TR velocity to pulmonary time-velocity integral ratio of > 0.2 (n = 15) and impaired right ventricle function (n = 15). RHC showed severe PAH in all 15 patients (mean pulmonary artery pressure: 48 ± 17mmHg and mean right atrial pressure: 11.8 ± 4.4mmHg) and a reduced cardiac index (2.2L/m²). There was no statistical difference between patients with and without PAH regarding age, sex ratio, duration from onset of disease, diffuse or cutaneous limited type of SSc, Rodnan severity score and presence of digital ulcerations or autoantibodies. Telangiectasia (P = 0.01) and New York Heart Association class III or IV heart failure (P = 0.001) were more frequent in patients with PAH.

CONCLUSION

A combined clinical and Doppler-coupled 2DE screening of PAH risk in patients with SSc is useful to select those who can undergo RHC.

Recommendations for screening and detection of connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension

OBJECTIVE

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) affects up to 15% of patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs). Previous recommendations developed as part of larger efforts in PAH did not include detailed recommendations for patients with CTD-associated PAH. Therefore, we sought to develop recommendations for screening and early detection of CTD-associated PAH.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of the literature on the screening and diagnosis of PAH in CTD. Using the RAND/University of California, Los Angeles consensus methodology, we developed case scenarios followed by 2 stages of voting. First, international experts from a variety of specialties voted anonymously on the appropriateness of each case scenario. The experts then met face-to-face to discuss and resolve discrepant votes to arrive at consensus recommendations.

RESULTS

The key recommendation stated that all patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) should be screened for PAH. In addition, patients with mixed connective tissue disease or other CTDs with scleroderma features (scleroderma spectrum disorders) should be screened for PAH. It was recommended that screening pulmonary function tests (PFTs) with single-breath diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, transthoracic echocardiogram, and measurement of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) be performed in all patients with SSc and scleroderma spectrum disorders. In patients with SSc and scleroderma spectrum disorders, transthoracic echocardiogram and PFTs should be performed annually. The full screening panel (transthoracic echocardiogram, PFTs, and measurement of NT-proBNP) should be performed as soon as any new signs or symptoms are present.

CONCLUSION

We provide consensus-based, evidence-driven recommendations for screening and early detection of CTD-associated PAH. It is our hope that these recommendations will lead to earlier detection of CTD-associated PAH and ultimately improve patient outcomes.