Evaluation of exercise capacity with cardiopulmonary exercise testing and BNP levels in adult patients with single or systemic right ventricles.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to evaluate exercise capacity using cardiopulmonary exercise test (CpET) and serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients with single or systemic right ventricles. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group included 40 patients (16 males) - 17 with transposition of the great arteries after Senning operation, 13 with corrected transposition of the great arteries and 10 with single ventricle after Fontan operation, aged 19-55 years (mean 28.8 ±9.5 years). The control group included 22 healthy individuals (10 males) aged 23-49 years (mean 30.6 ±6.1 years). RESULTS: The majority of patients reported good exercise tolerance - accordingly 27 were classified in NYHA class I (67.5%), 12 (30%) in class II, and only 1 (0.5%) in class III. Cardiopulmonary exercise test revealed significantly lower exercise capacity in study patients than in control subjects. In the study vs. control group VO(2max) was 21.7 ±5.9 vs. 34.2 ±7.4 ml/kg/min (p = 0.00001), maximum heart rate at peak exercise (HRmax) 152.5 ±32.3 vs. 187.2 ±15.6 bpm (p = 0.00001), VE/VCO(2) slope 34.8 ±7.1 vs. 25.7 ±3.2 (p = 0.00001), forced vital capacity (FVC) 3.7 ±0.9l vs. 4.6 ±0.3 (p = 0.03), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) 3.0 ±0.7 vs. 3.7 ±0.9l (p = 0.0002) respectively. Serum BNP concentrations were higher in study patients than in control subjects; 71.8 ±74.4 vs. 10.7 ±8.1 (pg/ml) respectively (p = 0.00001). No significant correlations between BNP levels and CpET parameters were found. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a morphological right ventricle serving the systemic circulation and those with common ventricle physiology after Fontan operation show markedly reduced exercise capacity. They are also characterized by higher serum BNP concentrations, which do not however correlate with CpET parameters.

Evaluation of exercise capacity with cardiopulmonary exercise test and B-type natriuretic peptide in adults with congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) usually find their exercise capacity satisfactory. However, objective evaluation is important for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. The aim of this study was to evaluate exercise capacity using cardiopulmonary exercise tests and measurement of serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in adult patients with CHDs, both in the entire study cohort and in subjects with individual types of cardiac lesions, as well as to verify the relation between BNP level and cardiac performance. METHODS: The study group included 265 patients (136 males; mean age 34.4 +/- 11.6 years) 173 of whom were operated on at the mean age of 9.2 +/- 7.3 years. They represented the following types of CHD: 72 patients--surgically corrected coarctation of the aorta, 62--surgically corrected tetralogy of Fallot, 28--Ebstein anomaly, 26--patent atrial septal defect, 24--Eisenmenger syndrome, 20--uncorrected or palliated complex cyanotic lesions, 11--corrected transposition of the great arteries (TGA), 14--TGA after Senning operation, and 8--common ventricle after Fontana operation. The control group consisted of 39 healthy individuals (17 males) with a mean age of 35.8 +/- 9.3 years. RESULTS: According to NYHA classification, 207 patients were recognized as representing class I symptoms, 47 subjects class II, and 11 class III. Cardiopulmonary exercise revealed significantly reduced exercise capacity in adults with CHD in general, compared to control subjects: maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was 23.3 +/- 6.9 vs. 33.6 +/- 7.2 mL/kg/min, respectively (p = 0.00001); maximum heart rate at peak exercise (HRmax) -161.1 +/- 33.2 vs. 179.6 +/- 12.3 bpm (p = 0.00001); respiratory workload (VE/VCO2slope) - 35.7 +/- 9.7 vs. 26.3 +/- 3.1 (p = 0.00001); and forced vital capacity (FVC) - 3.8 +/- 1.1 vs. 4.6 +/- 0.7 L (p = 0.00003). Various degrees of peak VO2max reduction were observed across the spectrum of CHD. Patients after repair of aortic coarctation demonstrated the highest VO2max (26.8 +/- 6.6 mL/kg/min), and the lowest was demonstrated by patients with Eisenmenger syndrome (12.8 +/- 4.8; ANOVA p = 0.00001). Serum BNP levels in the study group were higher than in the controls: 55.4 +/- 67.5 vs. 13.9 +/- 13.7 pg/mL, respectively (p = 0.00001). Various degrees of BNP level increase were found across the spectrum of CHD. Patients after repair of aortic coarctation demonstrated the lowest BNP level (24.8 pg/mL), and the highest level was found in patients with cyanotic defects (120.7 pg/mL; ANOVA p = 0.00001). BNP levels across the NYHA classes were as follows: I--35.7 pg/mL, II--94.1 pg/mL, and III--225.6 pg/mL. BNP levels showed negative correlation with VO2max (r = -0.525, p = 0.0001), FVC (r = -0.349, p = 0.00001), FEV1 (r = -0.335, p = 0.00001), and positive correlation with VE/VCO2slope (r = 0.447, p = 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: The exercise capacity of patients with CHD is, in general, compromised, most strikingly in patients suffering from pulmonary hypertension and cyanosis. Serum BNP levels in these subjects are increased and correlate well with exercise capacity. BNP level is higher in patients with cyanotic CHDs.

Exercise testing in adults after repair of aortic coarctation: evaluation of cardiopulmonary exercise capacity and B-type natriuretic protein levels.

The aim of the study was to investigate, in adult patients after successful repair of aortic coarctation, potential relationships between B-type natriuretic peptide levels and exercise capacity and the following factors: arterial hypertension, residual stenosis of the ascending aorta, and age at the time of surgery. The study group comprised 74 patients (45 men) aged 19 to 61 years (mean, 31.2 +/- 9.8 yr), who had undergone surgery at the age of 0.5 to 34 years (mean, 10.4 +/- 6.8 yr). The surgery was performed between 5 and 34 years earlier (mean, 21.4 +/- 6.2 yr). A subgroup with residual aortic stenosis (significant when > or =25 mmHg) comprised 32 patients; a subgroup without residual stenosis comprised 42 patients. Patients were also divided into subgroups without arterial hypertension (n=32), with exercise-induced arterial hypertension (n=10), and with persistent arterial hypertension (n=32). All patients were in New York Heart Association functional class I. The control group comprised 30 healthy subjects (18 men) aged 26 to 46 years (mean, 32.2 +/- 6.6 yr). After testing exercise capacity in accordance with a modified Bruce protocol, we concluded that the exercise capacity of adults is reduced after surgical repair of aortic coarctation. This reduction is more pronounced in patients who have arterial hypertension, but it is unaffected by residual stenosis of the descending aorta. Serum B-natriuretic peptide concentrations, as determined by immunoradiometric assay, are significantly elevated, which may result from pressure overload of the left ventricle or from residual myocardial lesions due to coarctation repair at an older age.

Cardiopulmonary exercise test in the evaluation of exercise capacity, arterial hypertension, and degree of descending aorta stenosis in adults after repair of coarctation of the aorta.

BACKGROUND: Despite effective repair of coarctation of the aorta (CoAo), arterial hypertension (AH) and early coronary artery disease that may result in heart failure. The aim of the study was to evaluate exercise capacity by a cardiopulmonary exercise test in patients after of CoAo repair, and to determine relations between these parameters and the presence of AH, residual stenosis of the descending aorta (AoD) and the patient's age at the time of the surgery. METHODS: 74 patients at mean age 31.2 +/- 9.8 years. The controls: 30 at mean age 32.2 +/- 6.6. Descending aorta (AoD) gradient was evaluated by echocardiography. The group with residual AoD stenosis: >/= 25 mm Hg (AoD+) 32 patients and AoD-: 41 patients. Subgroups without AH (AH-, n = 32), exercise-induced AH (AHex, n = 10), persistent AH (AH+, n = 32). The maximum exercise test was performed. RESULTS: A comparison of the study and control groups: VO(2)max: p = 0.0001), VO(2)max%: p=0.0001 and VE/VCO(2): p = 0.001. Negative correlation: between VO(2)max and the age at the time of surgery: p = 0.004) and a positive: between VE/VCO(2) and age at surgery: p = 0.005. No differences were observed between the AoD+ and AoD- groups with respect to cardiopulmonary parameters. A comparison of the AH+ and AH- groups revealed: VO(2)max: p = 0.01, VO(2)max%: p = 0.02 and VE/VCO(2): p = 0.003. A comparison of the AHex and AH- groups showed VE/VCO(2): p = 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: The exercise capacity of adults after surgical CoAo repair is reduced. This is more pronounced in patients with AH and those operated on at a more advanced age, but not in AoD+. (Cardiol J 2007; 14: 76-82).

[The influence of HRT on exercise performance in women with coronary artery disease]. / Wplyw hormonalnej terapii zastepczej na parametry wysilkowe u kobiet po menopauzie z choroba niedokrwienna serca.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on exercise tolerance and ischemia during treadmill exercise test. DESIGN: Prospective, cohort study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-six postmenopausal women with proven coronary artery disease (CAD) were enrolled into the study (31 were assigned to HRT and 25 were matched as a control group). Clinically both groups were comparable. All patients underwent treadmill exercise test at the beginning and after 12 months of follow up. RESULTS: After 12-months of follow-up exercise tolerance increased significantly and similarly in both groups: duration time (sec): HRT 347 +/- 142 to 401 +/- 113; control 328 +/- 112 to 368 +/- 120; workload (MET): 6.6 +/- 2.1 to 6.8 +/- 2.0 and 6.1 +/- 1.9 to 6.8 +/- 1.7; time to onset of ischemia (sec): 256 +/- 116 to 293 +/- 120 and 238 +/- 87 to 299 +/- 133. Number of leads with ST changes and total sum (mm) of ST depression in all leads did not change significantly. All above parameters were comparable at baseline and after 12 months follow-up between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Short term, combined, transdermal HRT does not improve exercise tolerance nor coronary ischemia during exercise test in women with CAD.