Frequency of Pulmonary Hypertension and Its Associated Risk Factors in End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis.

Introduction Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a recognized complication in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). PH is commonly found in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ESRD. PH is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with CKD. Methodology This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of PH and its associated risk factors in MHD patients. A total of 220 ESRD patients on MHD patients at The Kidney Center, Karachi, Pakistan, aged 18-70 were included. Patients with chronic obstructive lung disease, valvular heart disease, and obstructive sleep apnea were excluded, as these conditions can be responsible for PH. PH was evaluated by echocardiography (ECHO), which was performed by a cardiologist. Results The mean age was 50.65 ± 14.4 years, with 131 (59.5%) males and 89 (40.5%) females. The average duration on hemodialysis was 5.3 ± 2.8 years. Hypertension (89.5%) and ischemic heart disease (24.1%) were prominent comorbidities. Hypertensive nephropathy (42.7%) was the leading cause of ESRD. Left ventricular hypertrophy was mild in most cases (85.5%), whereas regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA) was common (67.3%). The average pulmonary artery pressure was 35.2 ± 15.3 mmHg. Out of 220 patients, 109 patients (49.8%) of them had mild PH, nine patients (4.1%) had severe PH, and 72 patients (32.7%) had moderate PH. Associations between PH and various factors were examined. RWMA, left ventricular hypertrophy, and left ventricular ejection fraction were significantly associated with PH (p < 0.001). Serum calcium and albumin levels were also associated with PH severity (p < 0.05). Other demographic and laboratory parameters did not show a significant association. Conclusion This study highlights the prevalence of PH in MHD patients and identifies associated risk factors. Understanding these associations can aid in better managing PH in ESRD patients.

Case report: Anesthetic management for removal of tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava and pulmonary artery in renal cell carcinoma.

Anesthetic management of patients with renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava (IVC) is challenging. This paper reports the experience of anesthesia management in a patient with advanced renal cell carcinoma with thrombus accumulation in the IVC, right atrium, and pulmonary artery who underwent radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombus removal assisted by cardiopulmonary bypass. The emboli, measuring approximately 3 × 6 cm in the left inferior pulmonary artery and 4 × 13 cm in the right main pulmonary artery, were removed completely. During incision of the IVC under systemic heparinization, significant blood loss occurred in the surgical field. The surgery took 724 min, and cardiopulmonary bypass took 396 min. Intraoperative blood loss was 22,000 ml. The patient was extubated 39 hours after surgery and stayed in intensive care unit for 3 days. At 1 year follow-up, the patient was in good health and leading a normal life.

An Alternative Endovascular Technique for Treatment of Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformation: Microballoon-occluded Transcatheter Embolization Using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate.

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of microballoon-occluded transcatheter embolization using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) in patients with a single pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM). METHODS: From November 2017 to November 2020, this retrospective study included 38 previously untreated patients with a single PAVM who underwent microballoon-occluded transcatheter embolization using NBCA. All 38 patients had follow-up that included simple chest radiography and contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT). RESULTS: A microballoon was successfully placed in a feeding artery of the PAVM to control the delivery of the NBCA cast in all 38 patients, with complete embolization of sacs and the feeding artery achieved in all cases. The mean diameters of the feeding artery, sac, and draining vein were 3.9 ± 0.9 mm, 7.5 ± 2.6 mm, and 4.6 ± 1.3 mm, respectively. A fixed 1:2 NBCA/Lipiodol ratio was used, and the mean amount of embolic mixture per patient was 1.4 mL (range 0.6-2.2 mL). There were no complications related to microballoon adhesion and non-target embolization of the systemic circulation. Follow-up CT in all 38 patients with a mean delay of 34.5 ± 8.8 months (range 20.7-56.5 months) showed no continued perfusion of the PAVM. CONCLUSION: In our hands, microballoon-occluded n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate embolization seemed to be safe and appeared to be clinically effective in patients with simple and complex types of single PAVM. Therefore, the present technique has the potential to become a standard treatment for a single PAVM.

Cost-effectiveness of remote haemodynamic monitoring by an implantable pulmonary artery pressure monitoring sensor (CardioMEMS-HF system) in chronic heart failure in the Netherlands.

AIMS: Remote haemodynamic monitoring with an implantable pulmonary artery (PA) sensor has been shown to reduce heart failure (HF) hospitalizations and improve quality of life. Cost-effectiveness analyses studying the value of remote haemodynamic monitoring in a European healthcare system with a contemporary standard care group are lacking. METHODS AND RESULTS: A Markov model was developed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of PA-guided therapy compared to the standard of care based upon patient-level data of the MONITOR-HF trial performed in the Netherlands in patients with chronic HF (New York Heart Association class III and at least one previous HF hospitalization). Cost-effectiveness was measured as the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained from the Dutch societal perspective with a lifetime horizon which encompasses a wide variety of costs including costs of hospitalizations, monitoring time, telephone contacts, laboratory assessments, and drug changes in both treatment groups. In the base-case analysis, PA-guided therapy increased costs compared to standard of care by €12 121. The QALYs per patient for PA-guided therapy and standard of care was 4.07 and 3.481, respectively, reflecting a gain of 0.58 QALYs. The resulting incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €20 753 per QALY, which is below the Dutch willingness-to-pay threshold of €50 000 per QALY gained for HF. CONCLUSIONS: The current cost-effectiveness study suggests that remote haemodynamic monitoring with PA-guided therapy on top of standard care is likely to be cost-effective for patients with symptomatic moderate-to-severe HF in the Netherlands.

Transcatheter recanalisation for absent intra-pericardial pulmonary arteries.

Unilateral absence of intra-pericardial pulmonary artery is a rare congenital malformation. If untreated, it can lead to morbidity and mortality in adulthood. Early intervention and restoration of physiologic pulmonary blood flow is necessary. Transcatheter stenting as initial intervention has been rarely reported. We present transcatheter recanalisation and stenting of the obliterated ductus in two newborns with unilateral absence of intra-pericardial pulmonary artery with cross-sectional imaging, procedural details, angiography, and follow up to surgical repair. We believe that such procedure promotes ipsilateral pulmonary vasculature growth to facilitate unifocalization surgery at a later age.

Aberrant Left Coronary Artery Origin in a Patient Presenting With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

A congenital anomalous origin of the coronary artery is a rare cardiovascular malformation that includes the left circumflex artery arising from the right sinus of Valsalva (RSV), both coronary arteries arising from RSV, the left anterior descending (LAD) artery arising from the respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and a single coronary artery arising from the left sinus of Valsalva. We present the case of a 72-year-old patient presenting with chest pain to his local hospital while cycling. Troponin levels peaked from 90 to 360 ng/L, and electrocardiography showed normal sinus rhythm and left bundle branch block. Echocardiography showed good left ventricular function with an ejection fraction of 55% and no regional wall motion abnormalities. The patient underwent coronary angiography, which revealed a severe proximal right coronary artery (RCA) lesion and an aberrant LAD artery. He underwent primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty of the RCA and was discharged home with dual antiplatelet therapy and high-dose statins. CT coronary angiography revealed an aberrant LAD and patent RCA stent with mild to moderate disease in the distal vessel, and he was reviewed in the outpatient clinic.

Massive left pulmonary artery aneurysm with a co-existing patent ductus arteriosus in a five-year-old female child: A case report.

Pulmonary Artery Aneur ysm (PAA), whether congenital or acquired, is a rare diagnostic find ing com pare d to aor tic aneur ysms. There have been fe w cases where PA As were documented as a complication of untreated Patent Ductus Ar teriosus (PDA) due to long-standing Pulmonary Arterial H ypertension (PAH). However, it is quite rare for a case of PAA to be reported with co-existing PDA without PAH. This report highlights a case of a five -year-old girl who was presented with palpitations, easy fatigability, fever, c yanos is, and vomiting. A Chest X-ray s howed mo derate cardiomega ly. A PDA of 6 mm was diagnosed on Transthoracic E chocardiog rap hy ( TTE ) and a large cavity con necte d with LPA raised suspicion of a possible LPA aneur ysm. A Chest CT scan confirm ed the diagnosis of a saccular aneurysm, originating from the distal part of the main Left Pulmonary Artery (LPA) just proximal to the point of bifurcation into lobar branches, measuring 7.5x6.5 cm. During surgery, the aneurysm was opened, emptied with suction and closed without resecting the aneur ysmal walls. The patient had an uneventful post-op course and is doing well during regular interval follow up visits.

Effect of IL-17 on pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of interleukin (IL)-17 in connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH) and to investigate its possible mechanism on pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to compare levels of serum IL-17 in patients with CTD-PAH and healthy controls (HCs). After treatment for 3 months, the serum IL-17 levels were tested in CTD-PAH. ELISA and immunohistochemistry were used to compare levels of serum IL-17 and numbers of pulmonary artery IL-17+ cells, respectively, in a rat model of monocrotaline-induced PAH and untreated rats. Proliferation, migration, and inflammatory factors expression of PASMCs were assessed after stimulation with different concentrations of IL-17 for various time periods. Proteins in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway were examined by western blot. RESULTS: Levels of IL-17 were upregulated in patients with CTD-PAH compared to HCs. After 3 months of treatment, serum IL-17 levels were downregulated with pulmonary artery pressure amelioration. Moreover, serum IL-17 levels and numbers of IL-17+ cells infiltrating lung arterioles were increased in PAH model rats. IL-17 could dose- and time-dependently promote proliferation and migration of PASMCs as well as time-dependently induce IL-6 and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression. The levels of MKK6 increased after IL-17 treatment. Inhibition of MAPK decreased proliferation of PASMCs. CONCLUSION: Levels of IL-17 may increase in CTD-PAH, and IL-17 promotes proliferation, migration, and secretion of IL-6 and ICAM in PASMCs, respectively, which likely involves the p-38 MAPK pathway.

Endovascular retrieval of a migrated contraceptive implant into the pulmonary artery : case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: The migration of contraceptive devices into pulmonary arteries is extremely rare, reported to be 1 in 100,000. CASE PRESENTATION: A 19-year-old female presented no sensation of a contraceptive implant in her arm which had been placed one year prior. A CT scan confirmed that the implant had migrated into the left lower segmentary pulmonary artery. After a multidisciplinary meeting, an endovascular approach was attempted. Following right femoral venous access, a 8F NeuronMax® introducer was placed into the left pulmonary artery under fluoroscopic guidance. The contraceptive device was removed using a 25-mm loop snare, with a proximal capture technique. The patient was discharged the following day, with no reported complications. CONCLUSION: In cases of contraceptive device migration, the first medical decision involves deciding between removal or 'watching and waiting'. Previous reports describe two removal options: endovascular or surgical approaches. Fourteen reports have been published, with high technical success and low rates of complications. The loop snare technique is described as the optimal technique for an endovascular approach. Due to their invasive nature, surgical approaches should be reserved for cases of endovascular removal failure, after evaluating risks and benefits.

Right pulmonary artery compression following acute type A aortic dissection resulting in acute right ventricular heart failure: A case report.

Right ventricular failure is a mechanism of hemodynamic collapse in acute aortic dissection. Mostly RV failure happens as a result of coronary malperfusion secondary to compression of right coronary artery ostium by the false lumen of type A aortic dissection or the dissection flap involving this coronary artery. Another mechanism is compression of pulmonary artery and an acute rise of pulmonary pressure below the level of obstruction, which is rarely reported. Herein, we presented an 82-year-old man who was admitted with type A aortic dissection in whom echocardiographic examination revealed right pulmonary artery compression resulting in acute right ventricular failure.

Optimal Method for Assessing Right Ventricular to Pulmonary Arterial Coupling and Subclinical Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Older Aged Healthy Adults: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) to pulmonary arterial (PA) coupling describes the ability of the RV to augment contractility in response to increased afterload. Several echocardiographic indexes of RV-PA coupling have been defined; however, the optimal numerator in the coupling ratio is unclear. We sought to establish which of these ratios is best for assessing RV-PA coupling based on their relationships with 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) in aging adults. METHODS: In this study of 1611 MESA participants who underwent echocardiography at Exam 6, we evaluated the association between different numerators, including tricuspid annular planar systolic excursion (TAPSE), fractional area change (FAC), RV free wall strain (RVFWS), and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) S' velocity to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) with 6MWD, NT-proBNP, and KCCQ score, adjusted for socioeconomic and cardiovascular disease risk factors. RESULTS: Our cohort had a mean age of 73±8 years, 54% female, and 17% Chinese American, 22% African American, 22% Hispanic, and 39% White participants. The mean (± SD) TAPSE/PASP, FAC/PASP, TDI S' velocity/PASP, and RVFWS/PASP ratios were 0.7±0.2, 1.3±0.3, 0.5±0.1, and 0.8±0.2, respectively. All RV-PA coupling indices decreased with age (p<0.0001 for all). TAPSE/PASP ratio was lower in older (≥85 years) female (0.59 ± 0.14) vs. male (0.65 ± 0.17) participants (p=0.01), whereas FAC/PASP ratio was higher in the same female vs. male participants (p<0.01). TAPSE/PASP and FAC/PASP ratios were significantly and strongly associated with all NT-proBNP, 6MWD, and KCCQ scores in fully adjusted and receiver operating characteristic analysis. CONCLUSION: Among older community-dwelling adults free of heart failure and pulmonary hypertension, both FAC/PASP and TAPSE/PASP ratios are optimal for assessment of RV-PA coupling based on its association with 6MWD, NT-proBNP, and KCCQ score. FAC/PASP ratio has the additional benefit of reflecting age and sex-related geometric and functional changes.

Invasive haemodynamics predict outcomes in paediatric pulmonary artery hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Invasive haemodynamics are often performed for initiating and guiding pulmonary artery hypertension therapy. Little is known about the predictive value of invasive haemodynamic indices for long-term outcomes in children with pulmonary artery hypertension. We aimed to evaluate invasive haemodynamic data to help predict outcomes in paediatric pulmonary artery hypertension. METHODS: Patients with pulmonary artery hypertension who underwent cardiac catheterisation (2006-2019) at a single centre were included. Invasive haemodynamic data from the first cardiac catheterisation and clinical outcomes were reviewed. The combined adverse outcome was defined as pericardial effusion (due to right ventricle failure), creation of a shunt for pulmonary artery hypertension (atrial septal defect or reverse Pott's shunt), lung transplant, or death. RESULTS: Among 46 patients with a median [interquartile range (IQR)] age of 13.2 [4.1-44.7] months, 76% had CHD. Median mean pulmonary artery pressure was 37 [28-52] mmHg and indexed pulmonary vascular resistance was 6.2 [3.6-10] Woods units × m2. Median pulmonary artery pulsatility index was 4.0 [3.0-4.7] and right ventricular stroke work index was 915 [715-1734] mmHg mL/m2. After a median follow-up of 2.4 years, nine patients had a combined adverse outcome (two had a pericardial effusion, one underwent atrial level shunt, one underwent reverse Pott's shunt, and six died). Patients with an adverse outcome had higher systolic and mean pulmonary artery pressures, higher diastolic and transpulmonary pressure gradients, higher indexed pulmonary vascular resistance, higher pulmonary artery elastance, and higher right ventricular stroke work index (p < 0.05 each). CONCLUSION: Invasive haemodynamics (especially mean pulmonary artery pressure and diastolic pressure gradient) obtained at first cardiac catheterisation in children with pulmonary artery hypertension predicts outcomes.

Right main pulmonary artery distensibility on dynamic ventilation CT and its association with respiratory function.

BACKGROUND: Heartbeat-based cross-sectional area (CSA) changes in the right main pulmonary artery (MPA), which reflects its distensibility associated with pulmonary hypertension, can be measured using dynamic ventilation computed tomography (DVCT) in patients with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during respiratory dynamics. We investigated the relationship between MPA distensibility (MPAD) and respiratory function and how heartbeat-based CSA is related to spirometry, mean lung density (MLD), and patient characteristics. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed DVCT performed preoperatively in 37 patients (20 female and 17 males) with lung cancer aged 70.6 ± 7.9 years (mean ± standard deviation), 18 with COPD and 19 without. MPA-CSA was separated into respiratory and heartbeat waves by discrete Fourier transformation. For the cardiac pulse-derived waves, CSA change (CSAC) and CSA change ratio (CSACR) were calculated separately during inhalation and exhalation. Spearman rank correlation was computed. RESULT: In the group without COPD as well as all cases, CSACR exhalation was inversely correlated with percent residual lung volume (%RV) and RV/total lung capacity (r = -0.68, p = 0.003 and r = -0.58, p = 0.014). In contrast, in the group with COPD, CSAC inhalation was correlated with MLDmax and MLD change rate (MLDmax/MLDmin) (r = 0.54, p = 0.020 and r = 0.64, p = 0.004) as well as CSAC exhalation and CSACR exhalation. CONCLUSION: In patients with insufficient exhalation, right MPAD during exhalation was decreased. Also, in COPD patients with insufficient exhalation, right MPAD was reduced during inhalation as well as exhalation, which implied that exhalation impairment is a contributing factor to pulmonary hypertension complicated with COPD. RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Assessment of MPAD in different respiratory phases on DVCT has the potential to be utilized as a non-invasive assessment for pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease and/or hypoxia and elucidation of its pathogenesis. KEY POINTS: • There are no previous studies analyzing all respiratory phases of right main pulmonary artery distensibility (MPAD). • Patients with exhalation impairment decreased their right MPAD. • Analysis of MPAD on dynamic ventilation computed tomography contributes to understanding the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease and/or hypoxia in patients with expiratory impairment.

Right Ventricle-Pulmonary Artery Coupling in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Interventions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to summarize the fundamentals of RV-PA coupling, its non-invasive means of measurement, and contemporary understanding of RV-PA coupling in cardiac surgery, cardiac interventions, and congenital heart disease. RECENT FINDINGS: The need for more accessible clinical means of evaluation of RV-PA coupling has driven researchers to investigate surrogates using cardiac MRI, echocardiography, and right-sided pressure measurements in patients undergoing cardiac surgery/interventions, as well as patients with congenital heart disease. Recent research has aimed to validate these alternative means against the gold standard, as well as establish cut-off values predictive of morbidity and/or mortality. This emerging evidence lays the groundwork for identifying appropriate RV-PA coupling surrogates and integrating them into perioperative clinical practice.

A Case Report of Pulmonary Vein Stenosis Within the Labyrinth of Fibrosing Mediastinitis.

This case centers on a 76-year-old male experiencing exertional dyspnea and hemoptysis, with a medical history marked by recurrent pulmonary embolism and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Notably, he resides in a histoplasmosis-endemic area. A computed tomography (CT) pulmonary embolism scan revealed notable findings, including an enlarged right lower pulmonary artery, vascular congestion, atelectasis, and a mass exerting pressure on the right lower pulmonary vein. Biopsy results identified the mass as fibrosing mediastinitis, likely attributed to histoplasmosis. A transthoracic echocardiogram indicated right ventricular dilatation, impaired function, and a right ventricular systolic pressure of 63 mm Hg. During right heart catheterization, the patient displayed disparate pulmonary artery wedge pressures (PAWPs) between the right and left sides. This discrepancy was linked to a blunted back wave from the left atrium to the catheter, induced by pulmonary vein compression. Although an infrequent phenomenon, the recorded asymmetry in PAWPs played a crucial role in guiding accurate patient management. The absence of subsequent evaluation of PAWP on the left side could have altered the treatment plan, potentially delaying appropriate patient care. This case emphasizes the necessity of thorough exploration with right heart catheterization when clinical symptoms warrant, highlighting the importance of standardized practices in such procedures.

Non-canonical IKB kinases regulate YAP/TAZ and pathological vascular remodeling behaviors in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) causes pulmonary vascular remodeling, increasing pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and leading to right heart failure and death. Matrix stiffening early in the disease promotes remodeling in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), contributing to PAH pathogenesis. Our research identified YAP and TAZ as key drivers of the mechanobiological feedback loop in PASMCs, suggesting targeting them could mitigate remodeling. However, YAP/TAZ are ubiquitously expressed and carry out diverse functions, necessitating a cell-specific approach. Our previous work demonstrated that targeting non-canonical IKB kinase TBK1 reduced YAP/TAZ activation in human lung fibroblasts. Here, we investigate non-canonical IKB kinases TBK1 and IKKε in pulmonary hypertension (PH) and their potential to modulate PASMC pathogenic remodeling by regulating YAP/TAZ. We show that TBK1 and IKKε are activated in PASMCs in a rat PH model. Inflammatory cytokines, elevated in PAH, activate these kinases in human PASMCs. Inhibiting TBK1/IKKε expression/activity significantly reduces PAH-associated PASMC remodeling, with longer-lasting effects on YAP/TAZ than treprostinil, an approved PAH therapy. These results show that non-canonical IKB kinases regulate YAP/TAZ in PASMCs and may offer a novel approach for reducing vascular remodeling in PAH.

The efficacy of pulmonary artery catheters in reducing mortality in acute heart failure cardiogenic shock: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic shock (CS), a complex and life-threatening medical condition, has an astounding hospital mortality rate spanning from 40 % to 59 %. Frequently, CS requires the use of pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) for management. OBJECTIVE: This literature review aims to investigate the relationship between PAC utilization in CS patients and in-hospital 30-day mortality rates compared to noninvasive vital sign monitoring alone. METHODS: An integrative literature search was conducted from January 1, 2003, until August 1, 2023. The review focused on patients with acute decompensated heart failure CS. It compared PAC and non-PAC hemodynamic monitoring with 30-day mortality outcomes. Five articles met the inclusion criteria and underwent quality assessment using CONSORT, STROBE, and STARD guidelines. RESULTS: Five articles totaled 332,794 patients. Patients with a PAC showed lower 30-day in-hospital mortality rates (22.2 % to 55 %) than patients without a PAC (29.8-78 %). One study, however, indicated that PAC use did not significantly affect mortality rates (p = 0.66). Notably, the lowest mortality rates (25 %) were linked to complete hemodynamic profiling with a PAC. The mortality rates showed greater significance when PAC initiation occurred early, resulting in a further reduction of the mortality rate to 17.3 %. Conversely, mortality rates increased to 27.7 % with delayed PAC initiation, 40 % with incomplete hemodynamic profiling, and 35 % with no PAC use. CONCLUSIONS: PAC utilization reduces in-hospital mortality for the CS patient population, as suggested by the analyzed studies. Further research via randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with standardized treatment protocols and adequate follow-up are required to validate the findings.

Revisiting the Clinical Interpretation of CT-Measured Pulmonary Artery-to-Aorta Ratio-The Rotterdam Study.

RATIONALE: The pulmonary artery (PA) diameter-to-aorta ratio (PA:A) ratio is a novel marker in cardiovascular imaging for detecting pulmonary hypertension. However, we question the effect of the varying aorta diameter on the ratio, which complicates the interpretation of the PA:A ratio. OBJECTIVE: Investigate the variability of the PA:A ratio by examining the correlation between PA:A ratio and aorta diameter and by comparing the associations of the PA diameter, aorta diameters, and PA:A ratio. METHODS: We included 2197 participants from the Rotterdam Study who underwent non-contrast multidetector computed tomography to measure the PA and aorta diameters. Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated between the PA:A ratio and aorta diameter. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to compare the determinants of the individual diameters and PA:A ratio. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant correlation between the PA:A ratio and aorta diameter (r = -0.38, p < 0.001). The PA diameter was statistically significantly associated with, height, weight, diastolic blood pressure, blood pressure medication, prevalence of atrial fibrillation, prevalence of heart failure, and prevalence of stroke (p < 0.05). Except for blood pressure medication, the PA:A ratio had similar determinants compared to the PA diameter but was also statistically significantly associated with sex, and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05), which were statistically significantly associated with the aorta diameter (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The PA:A ratio should not be interpreted without taking into account the variability of the individual components (PA and aorta diameter) according to the anthropomorphic and clinical characteristics.

Pulmonary artery involvement in Behçet's disease: A challenging case and comprehensive management approach.

A 26-year-old male with Behçet's disease (BD) presented with recurrent oral and genital ulcers, bilateral pneumonia, and a left lower pulmonary artery aneurysm. Endovascular coil embolization was initially performed, followed by treatment with prednisone, colchicine, and azathioprine. Despite treatment, disease progression occurred, requiring additional embolization, intravenous pulse methylprednisolone, and cyclophosphamide. Ultimately, a combination of medical and endovascular interventions resolved the pulmonary arterial aneurysms. This case highlights BD's systemic inflammatory nature and vascular complications like pulmonary artery aneurysms. It emphasizes the importance of early detection and individualized, multidisciplinary care for such complications.