Project description:In patients with left ventricular heart failure (HF), the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction are frequent and have important impact on disease progression, morbidity, and mortality, and therefore warrant clinical attention. Pulmonary hypertension related to left heart disease (LHD) by far represents the most common form of PH, accounting for 65-80% of cases. The proper distinction between pulmonary arterial hypertension and PH-LHD may be challenging, yet it has direct therapeutic consequences. Despite recent advances in the pathophysiological understanding and clinical assessment, and adjustments in the haemodynamic definitions and classification of PH-LHD, the haemodynamic interrelations in combined post- and pre-capillary PH are complex, definitions and prognostic significance of haemodynamic variables characterizing the degree of pre-capillary PH in LHD remain suboptimal, and there are currently no evidence-based recommendations for the management of PH-LHD. Here, we highlight the prevalence and significance of PH and RV dysfunction in patients with both HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and provide insights into the complex pathophysiology of cardiopulmonary interaction in LHD, which may lead to the evolution from a 'left ventricular phenotype' to a 'right ventricular phenotype' across the natural history of HF. Furthermore, we propose to better define the individual phenotype of PH by integrating the clinical context, non-invasive assessment, and invasive haemodynamic variables in a structured diagnostic work-up. Finally, we challenge current definitions and diagnostic short falls, and discuss gaps in evidence, therapeutic options and the necessity for future developments in this context.
Project description:BackgroundMyxoma is an uncommon disease and its symptoms vary greatly depending on size, location and mobility. Right-sided myxoma, especially right ventricular myxoma, is much rarer, and the symptoms are alien and uncharacteristic. The lack of understandings poses challenges to prompt diagnosis and timely treatment.Case presentationA 44-year-old female patient was diagnosed with giant right ventricular tumor. Right heart failure and systemic congestion caused by right ventricular outflow tract obstruction were observed on this case. Surgery was performed to excise the mass which was measured at 9.5 * 5.0 cm and confirmed as myxoma pathologically.ConclusionsRight-side myxoma is easy to be unnoticed due to its low incident rate and atypical symptoms. Delay in surgical intervention might cause unrecoverable complications. More comprehensive understanding of the symptoms is expected to help improving the diagnose and treat of right-sided myxoma.
Project description:Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an obstructive pulmonary vasculopathy, characterized by excess proliferation, apoptosis resistance, inflammation, fibrosis, and vasoconstriction. Although PAH therapies target some of these vascular abnormalities (primarily vasoconstriction), most do not directly benefit the right ventricle (RV). This is suboptimal because a patient's functional state and prognosis are largely determined by the success of the adaptation of the RV to the increased afterload. The RV initially hypertrophies but might ultimately decompensate, becoming dilated, hypokinetic, and fibrotic. A number of pathophysiologic abnormalities have been identified in the PAH RV, including: ischemia and hibernation (partially reflecting RV capillary rarefaction), autonomic activation (due to G protein receptor kinase 2-mediated downregulation and desensitization of β-adrenergic receptors), mitochondrial-metabolic abnormalities (notably increased uncoupled glycolysis and glutaminolysis), and fibrosis. Many RV abnormalities are detectable using molecular imaging and might serve as biomarkers. Some molecular pathways, such as those regulating angiogenesis, metabolism, and mitochondrial dynamics, are similarly deranged in the RV and pulmonary vasculature, offering the possibility of therapies that treat the RV and pulmonary circulation. An important paradigm in PAH is that the RV and pulmonary circulation constitute a unified cardiopulmonary unit. Clinical trials of PAH pharmacotherapies should assess both components of the cardiopulmonary unit.
Project description:Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is no longer an orphan disease. There are three different classes of drugs for the treatment of PAH that are currently being used and an increasing number of patients are being treated with a single drug or combination therapy. During the last 25 yrs, new insights into the pathobiology of PAH have been gained. The classical mechanical concepts of pressure, flow, shear stress, right ventricle wall stress and impedance have been complemented with the new concepts of cell injury and repair and interactions of complex multicellular systems. Integrating these concepts will become critical as we design new medical therapies in order to change the prognosis of patients with these fatal diseases. This review intends to summarise recent pathobiological concepts of PAH and right ventricle failure mainly derived from human studies, which reflect the progress made in the understanding of this complex group of pulmonary vascular diseases.
Project description:Right ventricular failure (RVF) in pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with increased incidence of sudden death by a poorly explored mechanism. We test the hypothesis that PH promotes spontaneous ventricular fibrillation (VF) during a critical post-PH onset period characterized by a sudden increase in mortality.Rats received either a single subcutaneous dose of monocrotaline (MCT, 60 mg/kg) to induce PH-associated RVF (PH, n=24) or saline (control, n=17). Activation pattern of the RV-epicardial surface was mapped using voltage-sensitive dye in isolated Langendorff-perfused hearts along with single glass-microelectrode and ECG-recordings. MCT-injected rats developed severe PH by day 21 and progressed to RVF by approximately day 30. Rats manifested increased mortality, and ?30% rats died suddenly and precipitously during 23-32 days after MCT. This fatal period was associated with the initiation of spontaneous VF by a focal mechanism in the RV, which was subsequently maintained by both focal and incomplete reentrant wave fronts. Microelectrode recordings from the RV-epicardium at the onset of focal activity showed early afterdepolarization-mediated triggered activity that led to VF. The onset of the RV cellular triggered beats preceded left ventricular depolarizations by 23±8 ms. The RV but not the left ventricular cardiomyocytes isolated during this fatal period manifested significant action potential duration prolongation, dispersion, and an increased susceptibility to depolarization-induced repetitive activity. No spontaneous VF was observed in any of the control hearts. RVF was associated with significantly reduced RV ejection fraction (P<0.001), RV hypertrophy (P<0.001), and RV fibrosis (P<0.01). The hemodynamic function of the LV and its structure were preserved.PH-induced RVF is associated with a distinct phase of increased mortality characterized by spontaneous VF arising from the RV by an early afterdepolarization-mediated triggered activity.
Project description:Right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (EF) by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) correlates to outcome in precapillary pulmonary hypertension (pPH) patients, but is insensitive to early changes. Strain might provide incremental information. In this study, we compare right atrial (RA) and RV strain in pPH patients to healthy controls, and evaluate the prognostic value of strain in pPH. In this cross-sectional study, 45 pPH patients and 20 healthy controls underwent CMR, and feature-tracking derived RA and RV strain were evaluated. pPH patients had impaired RA reservoir and conduit strain, and RV longitudinal strain (LS), compared to healthy controls. In pPH patients with preserved RVEF (≥ 50%, n = 18), RA reservoir (35% ± 9 vs. 41% ± 6, p = 0.02) and conduit strain (16% ± 8 vs. 23% ± 5, p = 0.004), and RV-LS (-25% ± 4 vs. -31% ± 4, p < 0.001) remained impaired, compared to healthy controls. The association of strain with the primary endpoint (combination of all-cause death, lung transplantation, and heart failure hospitalization) was evaluated using a multivariable Cox regression model. RV-LS (HR 1.18, 95%-CI 1.04-1.34, p = 0.01) and RA strain (reservoir: HR 0.87, 95%-CI 0.80-0.94, p = 0.001; conduit: HR 0.85, 95%-CI 0.75-0.97, p = 0.02, booster: HR 0.81, 95%-CI 0.71-0.92, p = 0.001) were independent predictors of outcome, beyond clinical and imaging features. In conclusion, pPH patients have impaired RA strain and RV-LS, even when RVEF is preserved. In addition, RA strain and RV-LS were independent predictors of adverse prognosis. These results emphasize the incremental value of RA and RV strain analyses, to detect alterations in RV function, even before RVEF declines.
Project description:BackgroundAcute heart failure with symptoms such as dyspnea and edema has various causes. In rare cases cardiac fistulas can cause acute heart failure. Herein we present a case of subacute heart failure due to an acquired fistula between the aorta and right atrium.Case reportA 48-year-old male was referred to the emergency room with increasing dyspnea on exercise and pitting edema of the lower extremities starting approximately 4 weeks previously. Echocardiographic workup showed an aorta-to-right atrium fistula. The patient was referred to a cardiothoracic surgery center for closure of the fistula.
Project description:Right ventricular failure was induced thourgh pulmonary banding in 11 pigs. Right ventricular failure was defined as a SRVP >50 mmHg during two hours. After right ventricular failure was induced, half the pigs were treatmed with a Glenn-shunt combined with pulmonary banding for one hour, and the other half served as control group with pulmonary banding only. The aim was to study the change in global gene expression during right ventricular failure due to pulmonary banding, and the effect of volume unloading during pulmonary banding. 11 pigs. Samples at the following time periods: 1) Baseline 2) Right ventricular failure 3) Treatment with modified Glenn-shunt/Control. After Right ventricular failure, pigs were divided into two groups a) Treatment with modified Glenn-shunt or b) Control group