Differentiating Left Atrial Pressure Responses in Paroxysmal and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: Implications for Diagnosing Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction and Managing Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Increased left atrial pressure (LAP) contributes to dyspnea and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in baseline LAP and LAP response to rapid pacing between paroxysmal and persistent AF. METHODS AND RESULTS: This observational study prospectively enrolled 1369 participants who underwent AF catheter ablation, excluding those with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. H2FPEF score was calculated by echocardiography and baseline characteristics. Patients underwent LAP measurements during AF, sinus rhythm, and heart rates of 90, 100, 110, and 120 beats per minute (bpm), induced by right atrial pacing and isoproterenol. The baseline LAP-peak in the persistent AF group consistently exceeded that in the paroxysmal AF (PAF) group across each H2FPEF score subgroup (all P<0.05). LAP-peak increased with pacing (19.5 to 22.5 mm Hg) but decreased with isoproterenol (20.4 to 18.4 mm Hg). Under pacing, patients with PAF exhibited a significantly lower LAP-peak (90 bpm) than those with persistent AF (17.7±8.2 versus 21.1±9.3 mm Hg, P<0.001). However, there was no difference in LAP-peak (120 bpm) between the 2 groups (22.1±8.1 versus 22.9±8.4 mm Hg, P=0.056) because the LAP-peak significantly increased with heart rate in the group with PAF. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PAF exhibited lower baseline LAP with greater increases during rapid pacing compared with individuals with persistent AF, indicating a need to revise the H2FPEF score for distinguishing PAF from persistent AF and emphasizing the importance of rate and rhythm control in PAF for symptom control. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique Identifier: NCT02138695.

Design and Rationale of the V-Wave Shunt MitraClip Study.

Heart failure (HF) and moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation (MR) with residual elevations in left atrial pressure (LAP) after MitraClip may remain symptomatic and experience subsequent HF readmissions. The V-Wave interatrial shunt system is a permanent interatrial septal implant that shunts blood from the left-to-right atrium and serves to continuously unload the left atrium. Although the V-Wave shunt has previously been studied in patients with HF, the safety and feasibility of its deployment at the time of the MitraClip procedure is unknown. The V-Wave Shunt MitraClip Study (NCT04729933) is an early feasibility study that aims to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of implantation of the V-Wave shunt device at the time of MitraClip procedure. Patients with moderate-to-severe secondary MR with left ventricular ejection fraction 20% to 50% and New York Heart Association functional class III/IV symptoms despite optimal medical therapy, residual mean LAP ≥20 mm Hg after MitraClip, and mean LAP-right atrial pressure difference ≥5 mm Hg are included. The primary safety end point is a composite outcome of all-cause death, stroke, myocardial infarction device embolization, cardiac tamponade, or device-related re-intervention or surgery at 30 days. Patients will be followed up to 5 years. Enrollment is ongoing, with 30-day results expected by the end of 2024. The V-Wave Shunt Mitraclip Study aims to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the implantation of the V-Wave interatrial shunt device at the time of index MitraClip placement which may serve as an adjunctive method by which continuous left atrial unloading may be achieved.

Left atrial strain parameters to predicting elevated left atrial pressure in patients with atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the ability of left atrial (LA) strain parameters to discriminate patients with elevated left atrial pressure (LAP) from patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 142 patients with non-valvular AF who underwent first catheter ablation (CA) between November 2022 and November 2023 were enrolled in the study. Conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) were performed in all patients within 24 h before CA, and LAP was invasively measured during the ablation procedure. According to mean LAP, the study population was classified into two groups of normal LAP (LAP < 15 mmHg, n = 101) and elevated LAP (LAP ≥ 15 mmHg, n = 41). Compared with the normal LAP group, elevated LAP group showed significantly reduced LA reservoir strain (LASr) [9.14 (7.97-11.80) vs. 20 (13.59-26.96), p < .001], and increased LA filling index [9.60 (7.15-12.20) vs. 3.72 (2.17-5.82), p < .001], LA stiffness index [1.13 (.82-1.46) vs. .47 (.30-.70), p < .001]. LASr, LA filling index and LA stiffness index were independent predictors of elevated LAP after adjusted by the type of AF, EDT, E/e', mitral E, and peak acceleration rate of mitral E velocity. The receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed LA strain parameters (area under curve [AUC] .794-.819) could provide similar or greater diagnostic accuracy for elevated LAP, as compared to conventional echocardiographic parameters. Furthermore, the novel algorithms built by LASr, LA stiffness index, LA filling index, and left atrial emptying fraction (LAEF), was used to discriminate elevated LAP in AF with good accuracy (AUC .880, accuracy of 81.69%, sensitivity of 80.49%, and specificity of 82.18%), and much better than 2016 ASE/EACVI algorithms in AF. CONCLUSION: In patients with AF, LA strain parameters could be useful to predict elevated LAP and non-inferior to conventional echocardiographic parameters. Besides, the novel algorithm built by LA strain parameters combined with conventional parameters would improve the diagnostic efficiency.

2-Year Outcomes of an Atrial Shunt Device in HFpEF/HFmrEF: Results From REDUCE LAP-HF II.

BACKGROUND: The REDUCE LAP-HF II (Reduce Elevated Left Atrial Pressure in Patients With Heart Failure II) trial found that, compared with a sham procedure, the Corvia Atrial Shunt did not improve outcomes in heart failure with preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction. However, after 12-month follow-up, "responders" (peak-exercise pulmonary vascular resistance <1.74 WU and absence of a cardiac rhythm management device) were identified. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine: 1) the overall efficacy and safety of the atrial shunt vs sham control after 2 years of follow-up; and 2) whether the benefits of atrial shunting are sustained in responders during longer-term follow-up or are offset by adverse effects of the shunt. METHODS: The study analyzed 2-year outcomes in the overall REDUCE LAP-HF II trial, as well as in responder and nonresponder subgroups. The primary endpoint was a hierarchical composite of cardiovascular death or nonfatal ischemic/embolic stroke, total heart failure events, and change in health status. RESULTS: In 621 randomized patients, there was no difference between the shunt (n = 309) and sham (n = 312) groups in the primary endpoint (win ratio: 1.01 [95% CI: 0.82-1.24]) or its individual components at 2 years. Shunt patency at 24 months was 98% in shunt-treated patients. Cardiovascular mortality and nonfatal ischemic stroke were not different between the groups; however, major adverse cardiac events were more common in those patients assigned to the shunt compared with sham (6.9% vs 2.7%; P = 0.018). More patients randomized to the shunt had an increase in right ventricular volume of ≥30% compared with the sham control (39% vs 28%, respectively; P < 0.001), but right ventricular dysfunction was uncommon and not different between the treatment groups. In responders (n = 313), the shunt was superior to sham (win ratio: 1.36 [95% CI: 1.02-1.83]; P = 0.037, with 51% fewer HF events [incidence rate ratio: 0.49 [95% CI: 0.25-0.95]; P = 0.034]). In nonresponders (n = 265), atrial shunting was inferior to sham (win ratio: 0.73 [95% CI: 0.54-0.98]). CONCLUSIONS: At 2 years of follow-up in REDUCE LAP-HF II, there was no difference in efficacy between the atrial shunt and sham groups in the overall trial group. The potential clinical benefit identified in the responder group after 1 and 2 years of follow-up is currently being evaluated in the RESPONDER-HF (Re-Evaluation of the Corvia Atrial Shunt Device in a Precision Medicine Trial to Determine Efficacy in Mildly Reduced or Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure) trial. (Reduce Elevated Left Atrial Pressure in Patients With Heart Failure II [REDUCE LAP-HF II]; NCT03088033).

Physician-directed patient self-management in heart failure using left atrial pressure: Interim insights from the VECTOR-HF I and IIa studies.

AIMS: Haemodynamic monitoring using implantable pressure sensors reduces the risk of heart failure (HF) hospitalizations. Patient self-management (PSM) of haemodynamics in HF has the potential to personalize treatment, increase adherence, and reduce the risk of worsening HF, while lowering clinicians' burden. METHODS AND RESULTS: The VECTOR-HF I and IIa studies are prospective, single-arm, open-label clinical trials assessing safety, usability and performance of left atrial pressure (LAP)-guided HF management using PSM in New York Heart Association class II and III HF patients. Physician-prescribed LAP thresholds trigger patient self-adjustment of diuretics. Primary endpoints include the ability to perform LAP measurements and transmit data to the healthcare provider (HCP) interface and the patient guidance application, and safety outcomes. This is an interim analysis of 13 patients using the PSM approach. Over 12 months, no procedure- or device-related major adverse cardiovascular or neurological events were observed, and there were no failures to obtain measurements from the sensor and transmit the data to the HCP interface and the patient guidance application. Patient adherence was 91.4%. Using PSM, annualized HF hospitalization rate significantly decreased compared to a similar period prior to PSM utilization (0 admissions vs. 0.69 admissions over 11.84 months, p = 0.004). At 6 months, 6-min walk test distance and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire overall summary score demonstrated significant improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Interim findings suggest that PSM using a LAP monitoring system is feasible and safe. PSM is associated with high patient adherence, potentially improving HF patients' functional status, quality of life, and limiting HF hospitalizations.

Use of Pleth Variability Index as a Non-invasive, Dynamic Indicator of Left Atrial Pressure Change During MitraClip: Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) with MitraClip is a safe and effective alternative to surgical mitral valve repair/replacement in patients with high operative risk. Pleth Variability Index (PVI) is a non-invasive, dynamic index based on analysis of the respiratory variations in the plethysmographic waveform recorded transcutaneously by the pulse oximeter. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to evaluate if the hemodynamic effect of improved left-sided output after successful transcatheter mitral valve repair would lead to a significant change in PVI, and if it would correlate with the decrease in left atrial pressure (LAP). DESIGN: Prospective, observational cohort study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03993938). SETTING: Single academic hospital in Detroit, Michigan (USA), from October 2019 to February 2021. PARTICIPANTS: The authors included adult patients with severe mitral regurgitation who underwent successful MitraClip placement. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 30 patients, all components of the LAP (a wave, v wave, and mean) decreased significantly after successful MitraClip placement (P < .01). The median (IQR) PVI increased from 21 (11-35) to 23 (13-38) after clip placement; however, this change was not statistically significant (P = .275). No significant correlation between change in PVI and change in LAP was observed (P = .235). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with severe mitral regurgitation, successful MitraClip resulted in a significant reduction in LAP without a significant change in PVI. A larger sample size may provide more insight on the utility of using PVI as an indicator of LAP change in patients with mitral regurgitation.

Head-to-Head Comparison of Hepatic Vein and Superior Vena Cava Flow Velocity Waveform Analyses for Predicting Elevated Right Atrial Pressure.

OBJECTIVE: Blood flow in the hepatic veins and superior vena cava (SVC) reflects right heart filling; however, their Doppler profiles are often not identical, and no studies have compared their diagnostic efficacies. We aimed to determine which venous Doppler profile is reliable for detecting elevated right atrial pressure (RAP). METHODS: In 193 patients with cardiovascular diseases who underwent cardiac catheterization within 2 d of echocardiography, the hepatic vein systolic filling fraction (HV-SFF) and the ratio of the peak systolic to diastolic forward velocities of the SVC (SVC-S/D) were measured. HV-SFF < 55% and SVC-S/D < 1.9 were regarded as elevated RAP. We also calculated the fibrosis 4 index (FIB-4) as a serum liver fibrosis marker. RESULTS: HV-SFF and SVC-S/D were feasible in 177 (92%) and 173 (90%) patients, respectively. In the 161 patients in whom both venous Doppler waveforms could be measured, HV-SFF and SVC-S/D were inversely correlated with RAP (r = -0.350, p < 0.001; r = -0.430, p < 0.001, respectively). SVC-S/D > 1.9 showed a significantly higher diagnostic accuracy of RAP elevation compared with HV-SFF < 55% (area under the curve, 0.842 vs. 0.614, p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that both FIB-4 (ß = -0.211, p = 0.013) and mean RAP (ß = -0.319, p < 0.001) were independent determinants of HV-SFF. In contrast, not FIB-4 but mean RAP (ß = -0.471, p < 0.001) was an independent determinant of SVC-S/D. The diagnostic accuracy remained unchanged when HV-SFF < 55% was considered in conjunction with the estimated RAP based on the inferior vena cava morphology. Conversely, SVC-S/D showed an incremental diagnostic value over the estimated RAP. CONCLUSIONS: SVC-S/D enabled a more accurate diagnosis of RAP elevation than HV-SFF.

An association between Dasatinib, elevated left atrial pressure and pleural effusion.

BACKGROUND: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), such as Dasatinib, are effective in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) but associated with development of pleural effusions (PE). The relationship between haemodynamic parameters identified on transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) such as elevated estimated left atrial pressure (LAP), and PE development is unknown. This study aims to describe associations between Dasatinib, elevated LAP and PE. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 71 CML patients who underwent TTE during treatment with various TKIs. Descriptive analysis was performed to identify associations between TKI use, PE and elevated LAP on TTE. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of elevated LAP. RESULTS: There were 36 patients treated with Dasatinib, 15 Nilotinib, and 20 Imatinib. Those treated with Dasatinib had higher rates of elevated LAP (44% vs 7% Nilotinib vs 10% Imatinib, p < 0.01) and PE (39% vs 7% vs 0%, p < 0.01). In the 15 patients who developed PE, 14 (93%) patients were treated with Dasatinib. Patients with PE had higher rates of elevated LAP (67% vs 16%, p < 0.01). Nineteen (26.8%) patients in the entire cohort had elevated LAP. After multivariate adjustment, Dasatinib (OR 33.50, 95% CI = 4.99-224.73, p < 0.01) and age (OR 1.12, 95% CI = 1.04-1.20, p < 0.01) were associated with elevated LAP. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with CML, there was an association between Dasatinib use, PE and elevated LAP on TTE. These findings are hypothesis generating and further studies are required to evaluate the utility of elevated LAP on TTE as a novel marker for prediction and surveillance of PE.

Association of transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion with acute changes in left atrial pressure: An invasive hemodynamic study.

BACKGROUND: The hemodynamic effects of transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the effect of LAAO on invasive hemodynamics and their correlation with clinical outcomes. METHODS: We recorded mean left atrial pressure (mLAP) before and after device deployment. We assessed the prevalence and predictors of mLAP increase after deployment, the association between significant mLAP increase after deployment and 45-day peridevice leak (PDL), and the association between mLAP increase and heart failure (HF) hospitalization. A significant mLAP increase was defined as one equal to or greater than the mean percentage increase in mLAP after deployment (≥28%). RESULTS: We included 302 patients (36.4% female; mean age, 75.8 ± 9.5 years). After deployment, mLAP increased in 48% of patients, 38% of whom experienced significant mLAP increase. Independent predictors of mLAP increase were baseline mLAP ≤14 mm Hg, nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation, and age per 5 years (odds ratios: 3.66 [95% CI, 2.21-6.05], 1.81 [95% CI, 1.08-3.02], and 0.85 [95% CI, 0.73-0.99], respectively). Significant mLAP increase was an independent predictor of 45-day PDL (odds ratio, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.04-6.26). There was no association between mLAP increase and HF hospitalization. CONCLUSION: After deployment, mLAP acutely rises in 48% of patients, although this is not associated with increased HF hospitalizations. PDL is more likely to develop at 45 days in patients with significant increase in mLAP after deployment, although most leaks were small (<5 mm). These findings suggest that mLAP increase after deployment is not associated with major safety concerns. Additional studies are warranted to explore the long-term hemodynamic effects of LAAO.

Acute Effect of Atrial Fibrillation on Circulating Natriuretic Peptides: The Influence of Heart Rate, Rhythm Irregularity, and Left Atrial Pressure Overload.

Plasma natriuretic peptides (NPs) are increased in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) compared with the patients with sinus rhythm. This study investigated whether this phenomenon is intrinsic to heart rhythm irregularity and independent of the heart rate and left atrial pressure (LAP) overload. We investigated 46 patients (age: 59 ± 10 years, male gender: 77%) with non-valvular paroxysmal AF who were scheduled for catheter ablation and had documented stable sinus rhythm for at least 18 hours before the procedure. All patients underwent direct measurement of right atrial pressure and LAP, simultaneously with assessment of plasma B-type NP, N-terminal pro-brain NP, and mid-regional pro-atrial NP. The baseline measurement was followed by induction of AF by rapid atrial pacing in the first 24 patients and by regular pacing from the coronary sinus at 100/min (corresponding to the mean heart rate during induced AF) in the latter 22 patients. Hemodynamic assessment and blood sampling were repeated after 20 min of the ongoing AF or fast regular paging. The baseline characteristics and hemodynamic measurements were comparable between study groups; however, patients in the regular atrial pacing group had a higher body mass index and a larger left atrial diameter compared with the induced AF group. Plasma levels of all 3 NPs increased significantly during induced AF but not during fast regular pacing, and the increase of NPs was independent of right atrial pressure and LAP. Baseline concentrations of NPs and heart rhythm irregularity were the only independent predictors of increased NPs.

Device therapy with interatrial shunt devices for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is responsible for half of all heart failure and confers substantial morbidity and mortality, and yet to date, there have been no effective pharmacologic interventions. Although the pathophysiology is complex, the primary aetiology of exercise intolerance is due to an elevated left atrial pressure, particularly with exercise. In this context, device-based therapy has become a focus. Several companies have developed techniques to percutaneously create an iatrogenic left to right shunt at the atrial level, thereby reducing left atrial pressure and reducing transmitted pressures to the pulmonary circulation and reducing pulmonary congestion. In this review, we explore the pathophysiology, evidence base, benefits, and considerations of these devices and their place in the therapeutic landscape of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Increase in heart rate-dependent left atrial pressure is associated with symptoms in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear why some patients with the same heart rate during an atrial fibrillation (AF) have subjective symptoms, whereas others do not. We assessed the hypothesis that different responses of arterial and left atrial blood pressures to rapid stimulation may be associated with the symptoms of AF. METHODS: A total of 110 patients who underwent catheter ablation for paroxysmal AF were retrospectively studied. Asymptomatic AF was defined as a European Heart Rhythm Association score of Ⅰ for AF-related symptoms. The left atrial pressure (LAP) was measured during sinus rhythm (SR), in 10 pacing per minute (ppm) increments from 100 ppm to the Wenckebach block rate in high right atrial pacing. RESULTS: Asymptomatic AF was observed in 19/110 patients (17%). Patients with symptomatic AF showed higher E/e' ratio and gradual LAP increase that was dependent on the pacing rate. Patients with asymptomatic AF had decreased LAP at 100 ppm compared that at SR, and thereafter, LAP gradually increased depending on the pacing rate. The rate of LAP change compared to that at SR was significantly lower in patients with asymptomatic AF than that in patients with symptomatic AF. The rate of LAP change was independently associated with AF symptoms. CONCLUSION: Patients with asymptomatic AF showed lower E/e' ratio and decreased LAP at 100 ppm to rapid stimulation, followed by a steady increase in LAP afterwards. Factors other than left ventricular diastolic dysfunction may be involved in AF symptoms.

Right atrial pressure represents cumulative cardiac burden in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

AIMS: Right-sided filling pressure is elevated in some patients with heart failure (HF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We hypothesized that right atrial pressure (RAP) would represent the cumulative burden of abnormalities in the left heart, pulmonary vasculature, and the right heart. METHODS AND RESULTS: Echocardiography was performed in 399 patients with HFpEF. RAP was estimated from inferior vena cava morphology and its respiratory change [estimated right atrial pressure (eRAP)], and patients were divided according to eRAP (3 or ≥8 mmHg). Patients with higher eRAP displayed more severe abnormalities in LV diastolic function as well as right heart structure and function than those with normal eRAP. Cardiac deaths or HF hospitalization occurred in 84 patients over a median follow-up of 19.0 months (interquartile range 6.7-36.9). The presence of higher eRAP was independently associated with an increased risk of the composite outcome (adjusted hazard ratio 2.20 vs. normal eRAP group, 95% confidence interval 1.34-3.62, P = 0.002). Kaplan-Meier curves separating the patients into four groups based on eRAP and E/e' ratio showed that event-free survival varied among the groups, providing an incremental prognostic value of eRAP over E/e' ratio. The classification and regression tree analysis demonstrated that eRAP was the strongest predictor of the outcome followed by right ventricular dimension, E/e' ratio, and estimated right ventricular systolic pressure, stratifying the patients into four risk groups (incident rate 8.8-72.2%). CONCLUSIONS: These data may provide new insights into the prognostic role of RAP in the complex pathophysiology of HFpEF and suggest the utility of eRAP for the risk stratification in patients with HFpEF.

Development and Validation of a Nomogram for Predicting the Long-Term Survival in Patients With Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.

There remains a lack of prognosis models for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). This study aims to develop a nomogram predicting 3-, 5-, and 7-year survival in patients with CTEPH and verify the prognostic model. Patients with CTEPH diagnosed in Fuwai Hospital were enrolled consecutively between May 2013 and May 2019. Among them, 70% were randomly split into a training set and the other 30% as a validation set for external validation. Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify the potential survival-related factors which were candidate variables for the establishment of nomogram and the final model was internally validated by the bootstrap method. A total of 350 patients were included in the final analysis and the median follow-up period of the whole cohort was 51.2 months. Multivariate analysis of Cox proportional hazards regression showed body mass index, mean right atrial pressure, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (per 500 ng/ml increase in concentration), presence of anemia, and main treatment choice were the independent risk factors of mortality. The nomogram demonstrated good discrimination with the corrected C-index of 0.82 in the training set, and the C-index of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.70 to 0.91) in the external validation set. The calibration plots also showed a good agreement between predicted and actual survival in both training and validation sets. In conclusion, we developed an easy-to-use nomogram with good apparent performance using 5 readily available variables, which may help physicians to identify CTEPH patients at high risk for poor prognosis and implement medical interventions.

Elevated Left and Right Atrial Pressures Long-Term After Atrial Septal Defect Correction: An Invasive Exercise Hemodynamic Study.

Background Despite correction of the atrial septal defect (ASD), patients experience atrial fibrillation frequently and have increased morbidity and mortality. We examined physical capacity, cardiac performance, and invasive hemodynamics in patients with corrected ASD. Methods and Results Thirty-eight corrected patients with isolated secundum ASD and 19 age-matched healthy controls underwent right heart catheterization at rest and during exercise with simultaneous expired gas assessment and echocardiography. Maximum oxygen uptake was comparable between groups (ASD 32.7±7.7 mL O2/kg per minute, controls 35.2±7.5 mL O2/kg per minute, P=0.3), as was cardiac index at both rest and peak exercise. In contrast, pulmonary artery wedge v wave pressures were increased at rest and peak exercise (rest: ASD 14±4 mm Hg, controls 10±5 mm Hg, P=0.01; peak: ASD 25±9 mm Hg, controls 14±9 mm Hg, P=0.0001). The right atrial v wave pressures were increased at rest but not at peak exercise. The transmural filling pressure gradient (TMFP) was higher at peak exercise among patients with ASD (10±6 mm Hg, controls 7±3 mm Hg, P=0.03). One third of patients with ASD demonstrated an abnormal hemodynamic exercise response defined as mean pulmonary artery wedge pressure ≥25 mm Hg and/or mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥35 mm Hg at peak exercise. These patients had significantly elevated peak right and left atrial a wave pressures, right atrial v wave pressures, pulmonary artery wedge v wave pressures, and transmural filling pressure compared with both controls and patients with ASD with a normal exercise response. Conclusions Patients with corrected ASD present with elevated right and in particular left atrial pressures at rest and during exercise despite preserved peak exercise capacity. Abnormal atrial compliance and systolic atrial function could predispose to the increased long-term risk of atrial fibrillation. Registration Information clinicaltrials.gov. Identifier: NCT03565471.

Intra-arterial versus oscillometric blood pressure measurements in women with severe peripartum hypertension undergoing urgent treatment with nicardipine: An observational study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare radial arterial catheter-derived pressure with oscillometric blood pressure in women with severe peripartum hypertension undergoing urgent treatment with intravenous nicardipine at a maternal intensive care unit. STUDY DESIGN: We obtained patients' paired values of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP). All of the measurements were divided into four groups based on the levels of SBP and MAP measured using the oscillometric method. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We assessed agreements of the paired values using the Bland-Altman method. The clinical relevance of differences between the two methods was assessed by error grid analysis. RESULTS: A total of 337 paired SBP and DBP values and 305 paired MAP values were obtained for 89 patients. The values of intra-arterial SBP were higher than those of oscillometric SBP. The values of intra-arterial MAP were higher than those of oscillometric MAP except for the women with MAP ≥ 125 mm Hg. Bland - Altman analysis showed acceptable agreement for DBP and MAP measured by intra-arterial method and oscillometric method. Error grid analysis showed the proportions of measurements in risk zones A to E were 83.22%, 16.46%, 0.32%, 0%, and 0% for SBP, and 97.81%, 2.19%, 0%, 0%, and 0% for MAP, respectively. CONCLUSION: Intra-arterial MAP can be used reliably to monitor the effect of intravenous nicardipine for treating severe hypertension. Intra-arterial SBP may trigger moderate-risk treatment decisions in the women with oscillometric SBP ≤ 160 mm Hg.

Heightened Dependence of Left-Heart Filling Pressures on Right-Heart Failure in Congenital Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) is often elevated in patients with right-sided congenital heart disease (CHD), raising the possibility of coexisting left-heart disease, but pressure-volume relationships in the left and right sides of the heart influence one another through interdependence, which may be amplified in patients with CHD. METHODS: We hypothesized that increases in PAWP in patients with CHD would be more strongly related to ventricular interdependence compared with patients who have isolated left-heart disease such as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Ventricular interdependence was assessed by the relationship between PAWP and right-atrial pressure (RAP), RAP/PAWP ratio, and the left-ventricular (LV) eccentricity index. RESULTS: PAWP was elevated (≥15 mm Hg) in 49% of patients with CHD (n = 449). There was a very strong correlation between RAP and PAWP in CHD (r = 0.81, P < 0.001) that greatly exceeded the respective correlation in HFpEF (n = 160; r = 0.58, P < 0.001; P < 0.001 between groups). RAP/PAWP ratio and LV eccentricity index were higher in CHD than HFpEF (1.26 ± 0.18 vs 1.05 ± 0.14, P = 0.007) and (0.80 ± 0.21 vs 0.59 ± 0.19, P < 0.001), respectively. RAP (but not PAWP) was an independent predictor of death/transplant (hazard ratio 1.86 per 5 mm Hg, 95% confidence interval, 1.39-2.45, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Left-heart filling pressures are commonly elevated in right-sided CHD, but this is related predominantly to right-heart failure and enhanced ventricular interdependence rather than left-heart disease. These data provide new insight into the basis of abnormal left-heart hemodynamics in patients with CHD and reinforce the importance of therapeutic interventions targeted to the right heart.