Xavier Jaïs

Survival in Patients With Idiopathic, Familial, and Anorexigen-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in the Modern Management Era

Background— Novel therapies have recently become available for pulmonary arterial hypertension. We conducted a study to characterize mortality in a multicenter prospective cohort of patients diagnosed with idiopathic, familial, or anorexigen-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension in the modern management era. Methods and Results— Between October 2002 and October 2003, 354 consecutive adult patients with idiopathic, familial, or anorexigen-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (56 incident and 298 prevalent cases) were prospectively enrolled. Patients were followed up for 3 years, and survival rates were analyzed. For incident cases, estimated survival (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) at 1, 2, and 3 years was 85.7% (95% CI, 76.5 to 94.9), 69.6% (95% CI, 57.6 to 81.6), and 54.9% (95% CI, 41.8 to 68.0), respectively. In a combined analysis population (incident patients and prevalent patients diagnosed within 3 years before study entry; n=190), 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival estimates were 82.9% (95% CI, 72.4 to 95.0), 67.1% (95% CI, 57.1 to 78.8), and 58.2% (95% CI, 49.0 to 69.3), respectively. Individual survival analysis identified the following as significantly and positively associated with survival: female gender, New York Heart Association functional class I/II, greater 6-minute walk distance, lower right atrial pressure, and higher cardiac output. Multivariable analysis showed that being female, having a greater 6-minute walk distance, and exhibiting higher cardiac output were jointly significantly associated with improved survival. Conclusions— In the modern management era, idiopathic, familial, and anorexigen-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension remains a progressive, fatal disease. Mortality is most closely associated with male gender, right ventricular hemodynamic function, and exercise limitation.

Long-term response to calcium-channel blockers in non-idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension

AIMS To assess the acute vasodilator response and long-term response to calcium-channel blockers (CCB) in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) with associated conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS The response to acute vasodilator testing [>20% decrease in mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and total pulmonary resistance] was assessed in 663 consecutive PAH patients with connective tissue disease (CTD; n = 168), portal hypertension (PoPH; n = 153), anorexigen use (n = 127), human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV; n = 124), congenital heart disease (CHD; n = 50), and pulmonary veno-occlusive disease or capillary haemangiomatosis (PVOD/PCH; n = 41). An acute vasodilator response was observed in 13.4% of PAH-anorexigen patients, 12.2% of PVOD/PCH, 10.1% of CTD, 1.6% of HIV, 1.3% of PoPH, and was absent in CHD. A long-term response to CCB (marked haemodynamic improvement at 3-4 months and New York Heart Association functional class I or II after 1 year) was reported in 9.4% of PAH-anorexigen patients but was rare in HIV, PoPH, CTD (1.6, 0.7, and 0.6%, respectively) and absent in PVOD/PCH. All patients with a long-term CCB response were alive after 5 years; two deaths not related to PAH occurred after this time. Recent criteria for acute response based on the fall in mPAP to <40 mmHg are more specific to detect long-term responders to CCB. CONCLUSION A long-term CCB response was reported in patients with PAH associated with anorexigen use, but was rare in patients with PoPH or HIV and absent in PVOD/PCH, CHD, and the vast majority of CTD. The prognosis of long-term responders was favourable and related to the underlying cause of PAH.

Long-Term Response to Calcium Channel Blockers in Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Background—Characteristics of patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) who benefit from long-term calcium channel blockers (CCB) are unknown. Methods and Results—Acute pulmonary vasodilator testing with epoprostenol or nitric oxide was performed in 557 IPAH patients. Acute responders, defined by a fall in both mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) >20%, received long-term oral CCB. Patients who benefit from long-term CCB were defined as those being in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class I or II after at least 1 year on CCB monotherapy. Among the 70 patients who displayed acute pulmonary vasoreactivity (12.6%; 95% CI, 9.8% to 15.3%) and received CCB therapy, only 38 showed long-term improvement (6.8%; 95% CI, 4.7% to 8.9%). Long-term CCB responders had less severe disease at baseline than patients who failed. During acute vasodilator testing, long-term CCB responders displayed a more pronounced fall in mean PAP (−39±11% versus −26±7%; P<0.0001), reaching an absolute value of mean PAP lower than that measured in patients who failed (33±8 versus 46±10 mm Hg; P<0.0001). After 7.0±4.1 years, all but 1 long-term CCB responders were alive in NYHA class I or II, with a sustained hemodynamic improvement. In the group of patients who failed on CCB, the 5-year survival rate was 48%. Conclusions—Long-term CCB responders represent <10% of IPAH patients evaluated in a pulmonary vascular referral center. During acute vasodilator testing, these patients showed significantly lower levels of both mean PAP and PVR, which reached near-normal values.

Bosentan for Treatment of Inoperable Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: BENEFiT (Bosentan Effects in iNopErable Forms of chronIc Thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension), a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES Our goal was to investigate the effect of treatment with the oral dual endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan on the hemodynamics and exercise capacity of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). BACKGROUND CTEPH is characterized by vascular obstruction and remodeling, leading to increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Although pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is potentially curative, medical therapy is needed in patients with inoperable disease or persistent/recurrent pulmonary hypertension after PEA. METHODS The BENEFiT (Bosentan Effects in iNopErable Forms of chronIc Thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension) study was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study in CTEPH including patients with either inoperable CTEPH or persistent/recurrent pulmonary hypertension after PEA (>6 months after PEA). Independent coprimary end points were change in PVR as a percentage of baseline and change from baseline in 6-min walk distance after 16 weeks of treatment with bosentan or placebo. Secondary end points included change from baseline in World Health Organization functional class and other hemodynamic parameters. RESULTS One hundred fifty-seven patients were enrolled and randomized: 80 to placebo, 77 to bosentan. A statistically significant treatment effect (TE) of bosentan over placebo on PVR was demonstrated: -24.1% of baseline (95% confidence interval [CI]: -31.5% to -16.0%; p < 0.0001). Total pulmonary resistance (TE: -193 dynxsxcm(-5); 95% CI: -283 to -104 dyn.s.cm(-5); p < 0.0001) and cardiac index (TE: 0.3 lxmin(-1)xm(-2); 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.46 lxmin(-1)xm(-2); p = 0.0007) improved. Mean TE on 6-min walk distance was +2.2 m (95% CI: -22.5 to 26.8 m; p = 0.5449). Bosentan treatment was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated a positive TE of bosentan on hemodynamics in this patient population. No improvement was observed in exercise capacity. Further trials are needed to define the role of medical therapy in patients with CTEPH (Bosentan Effects in Inoperable Forms of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension; NCT00313222).

Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH) Results From an International Prospective Registry

Background— Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is often a sequel of venous thromboembolism with fatal natural history; however, many cases can be cured by pulmonary endarterectomy. The clinical characteristics and current management of patients enrolled in an international CTEPH registry was investigated. Methods and Results— The international registry included 679 newly diagnosed (≤6 months) consecutive patients with CTEPH, from February 2007 until January 2009. Diagnosis was confirmed by right heart catheterization, ventilation-perfusion lung scintigraphy, computerized tomography, and/or pulmonary angiography. At diagnosis, a median of 14.1 months had passed since first symptoms; 427 patients (62.9%) were considered operable, 247 (36.4%) nonoperable, and 5 (0.7%) had no operability data; 386 patients (56.8%, ranging from 12.0%– 60.9% across countries) underwent surgery. Operable patients did not differ from nonoperable patients relative to symptoms, New York Heart Association class, and hemodynamics. A history of acute pulmonary embolism was reported for 74.8% of patients (77.5% operable, 70.0% nonoperable). Associated conditions included thrombophilic disorder in 31.9% (37.1% operable, 23.5% nonoperable) and splenectomy in 3.4% of patients (1.9% operable, 5.7% nonoperable). At the time of CTEPH diagnosis, 37.7% of patients initiated at least 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension–targeted therapy (28.3% operable, 53.8% nonoperable). Pulmonary endarterectomy was performed with a 4.7% documented mortality rate. Conclusions— Despite similarities in clinical presentation, operable and nonoperable CTEPH patients may have distinct associated medical conditions. Operability rates vary considerably across countries, and a substantial number of patients (operable and nonoperable) receive off-label pulmonary arterial hypertension–targeted treatments. # Clinical Perspective {#article-title-40}Background— Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is often a sequel of venous thromboembolism with fatal natural history; however, many cases can be cured by pulmonary endarterectomy. The clinical characteristics and current management of patients enrolled in an international CTEPH registry was investigated. Methods and Results— The international registry included 679 newly diagnosed (⩽6 months) consecutive patients with CTEPH, from February 2007 until January 2009. Diagnosis was confirmed by right heart catheterization, ventilation-perfusion lung scintigraphy, computerized tomography, and/or pulmonary angiography. At diagnosis, a median of 14.1 months had passed since first symptoms; 427 patients (62.9%) were considered operable, 247 (36.4%) nonoperable, and 5 (0.7%) had no operability data; 386 patients (56.8%, ranging from 12.0%– 60.9% across countries) underwent surgery. Operable patients did not differ from nonoperable patients relative to symptoms, New York Heart Association class, and hemodynamics. A history of acute pulmonary embolism was reported for 74.8% of patients (77.5% operable, 70.0% nonoperable). Associated conditions included thrombophilic disorder in 31.9% (37.1% operable, 23.5% nonoperable) and splenectomy in 3.4% of patients (1.9% operable, 5.7% nonoperable). At the time of CTEPH diagnosis, 37.7% of patients initiated at least 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension–targeted therapy (28.3% operable, 53.8% nonoperable). Pulmonary endarterectomy was performed with a 4.7% documented mortality rate. Conclusions— Despite similarities in clinical presentation, operable and nonoperable CTEPH patients may have distinct associated medical conditions. Operability rates vary considerably across countries, and a substantial number of patients (operable and nonoperable) receive off-label pulmonary arterial hypertension–targeted treatments.

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Patients Treated by Dasatinib

Background— The French pulmonary hypertension (PH) registry allows the survey of epidemiological trends. Isolated cases of precapillary PH have been reported in patients who have chronic myelogenous leukemia treated with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib. Methods and Results— This study was designed to describe incident cases of dasatinib-associated PH reported in the French PH registry. From the approval of dasatinib (November 2006) to September 30, 2010, 9 incident cases treated by dasatinib at the time of PH diagnosis were identified. At diagnosis, patients had moderate to severe precapillary PH with functional and hemodynamic impairment. No other incident PH cases were exposed to other tyrosine kinase inhibitors at the time of PH diagnosis. Clinical, functional, or hemodynamic improvements were observed within 4 months of dasatinib discontinuation in all but 1 patient. Three patients required PH treatment with endothelin receptor antagonist (n=2) or calcium channel blocker (n=1). After a median follow-up of 9 months (min-max 3–36), the majority of patients did not demonstrate complete clinical and hemodynamic recovery, and no patients reached a normal value of mean pulmonary artery pressure (⩽20 mm Hg). Two patients (22%) died at follow-up (1 of unexplained sudden death and 1 of cardiac failure in the context of septicemia, respectively, 8 and 12 months after dasatinib withdrawal). The lowest estimate of incident PH occurring in patients exposed to dasatinib in France was 0.45%. Conclusions— Dasatinib may induce severe precapillary PH fulfilling the criteria of pulmonary arterial hypertension, thus suggesting a direct and specific effect of dasatinib on pulmonary vessels. Improvement is usually observed after withdrawal of dasatinib.

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is a rare form of pulmonary hypertension (PH) characterised by preferential remodelling of the pulmonary venules. In the current PH classification, PVOD and pulmonary capillary haemangiomatosis (PCH) are considered to be a common entity and represent varied expressions of the same disease. The recent discovery of biallelic mutations in the EIF2AK4 gene as the cause of heritable PVOD/PCH represents a major milestone in our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of PVOD. Although PVOD and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) share a similar clinical presentation, with features of severe precapillary PH, it is important to differentiate these two conditions as PVOD carries a worse prognosis and life-threatening pulmonary oedema may occur following the initiation of PAH therapy. An accurate diagnosis of PVOD based on noninvasive investigations is possible utilising oxygen parameters, low diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide and characteristic signs on high-resolution computed tomography of the chest. No evidence-based medical therapy exists for PVOD at present and lung transplantation remains the preferred definitive therapy for eligible patients. Recent advances such as discovery of the genetic basis of PVOD will pave way for future translational research http://ow.ly/YldhC

Immunosuppressive therapy in lupus- and mixed connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension: a retrospective analysis of twenty-three cases.

OBJECTIVE To describe the response to first-line immunosuppressive therapy with or without pulmonary vasodilators in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). METHODS Twenty-three consecutive patients with SLE- or MCTD-associated PAH treated with first-line immunosuppressive therapy either alone (n = 16) or in combination with pulmonary vasodilators (n = 7) were evaluated according to clinical and hemodynamic criteria before and after immunosuppressive therapy. Responders were defined as patients in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class I or II with hemodynamic improvement after the last pulse of cyclophosphamide. RESULTS Among the 16 patients treated with first-line immunosuppressive therapy alone, 8 (50%) were responders. These patients had a significantly improved NYHA functional class, 6-minute walking distance, and mean pulmonary artery pressure. Patients in NYHA functional class I or II and/or a cardiac index >3.1 liters/minute/m(2) at baseline were more likely to benefit from immunosuppressive therapy. Six of the 8 nonresponders subsequently improved with pulmonary vasodilators. Among the 7 patients who were initially treated with immunosuppressive therapy and pulmonary vasodilators, 4 (57.1%) were responders. CONCLUSION PAH associated with SLE or MCTD may respond to a treatment combining cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoids. Patients who could benefit from this immunosuppressive therapy could be those who have less severe disease at baseline. For patients with more severe disease, pulmonary vasodilators should be started, possibly in combination with immunosuppressants. In any case, clinical and hemodynamic evaluations are mandatory to monitor the response and adapt the treatment. These retrospective and uncontrolled data need to be confirmed by randomized controlled trials.

Clinical outcomes of pulmonary arterial hypertension in carriers of BMPR2 mutation.

RATIONALE Germline mutations in the gene encoding for bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) are a cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). OBJECTIVES We conducted a study to determine the influence, if any, of a BMPR2 mutation on clinical outcome. METHODS The French Network of Pulmonary Hypertension obtained data for 223 consecutive patients displaying idiopathic or familial PAH in whom point mutation and large size rearrangements of BMPR2 were screened for. Clinical, functional, and hemodynamic characteristics, as well as outcomes, were compared in BMPR2 mutation carriers and noncarriers. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Sixty-eight BMPR2 mutation carriers (28 familial and 40 idiopathic PAH) were compared with 155 noncarriers (all displaying idiopathic PAH). As compared with noncarriers, BMPR2 mutation carriers were younger at diagnosis of PAH (36.5 +/- 14.5 vs. 46.0 +/- 16.1 yr, P < 0.0001), had higher mean pulmonary artery pressure (64 +/- 13 vs. 56 +/- 13 mm Hg, P < 0.0001), lower cardiac index (2.13 +/- 0.68 vs. 2.50 +/- 0.73 L/min/m(2), P = 0.0005), higher pulmonary vascular resistance (17.4 +/- 6.1 vs. 12.7 +/- 6.6 mm Hg/L/min/m(2), P < 0.0001), lower mixed venous oxygen saturation (59 +/- 9% vs. 63 +/- 9%, P = 0.02), shorter time to death or lung transplantation (P = 0.044), and younger age at death (P = 0.002), but similar overall survival (P = 0.51). CONCLUSIONS BMPR2 mutation carriers with PAH present approximately 10 years earlier than noncarriers, with a more severe hemodynamic compromise at diagnosis.

Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease Clinical, Functional, Radiologic, and Hemodynamic Characteristics and Outcome of 24 Cases Confirmed by Histology

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is defined by specific pathologic changes of the pulmonary veins. A definite diagnosis of PVOD thus requires a lung biopsy or pathologic examination of pulmonary explants or postmortem lung samples. However, lung biopsy is hazardous in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension, and there is a need for noninvasive diagnostic tools in this patient population. Patients with PVOD may be refractory to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)-specific therapy and may even deteriorate with it. It is important to identify such patients as soon as possible, because they should be treated cautiously and considered for lung transplantation if eligible. High-resolution computed tomography of the chest can suggest PVOD in the setting of pulmonary hypertension when it shows nodular ground-glass opacities, septal lines, lymph node enlargement, and pleural effusion. Similarly, occult alveolar hemorrhage found on bronchoalveolar lavage in patients with pulmonary hypertension is associated with PVOD. We conducted the current study to identify additional clinical, functional, and hemodynamic characteristics of PVOD. We retrospectively reviewed 48 cases of severe pulmonary hypertension: 24 patients with histologic evidence of PVOD and 24 randomly selected patients with idiopathic, familial, or anorexigen-associated PAH and no evidence of PVOD after meticulous lung pathologic evaluation. We compared clinical and radiologic findings, pulmonary function, and hemodynamics at presentation, as well as outcomes after the initiation of PAH therapy in both groups. Compared to PAH, PVOD was characterized by a higher male:female ratio and higher tobacco exposure (p < 0.01). Clinical presentation was similar except for a lower body mass index (p < 0.02) in patients with PVOD. At baseline, PVOD patients had significantly lower partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2), diffusing lung capacity of carbon monoxide/alveolar volume (DLCO/VA), and oxygen saturation nadir during the 6-minute walk test (all p < 0.01). Hemodynamic parameters showed a lower mean systemic arterial pressure (p < 0.01) and right atrial pressure (p < 0.05), but no difference in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. Four bone morphogenetic protein receptor II (BMPR2) mutations have been previously described in PVOD patients; in the current study we describe 2 additional cases of BMPR2 mutation in PVOD. Computed tomography of the chest revealed nodular and ground-glass opacities, septal lines, and lymph node enlargement more frequently in patients with PVOD compared with patients with PAH (all p < 0.05). Among the 16 PVOD patients who received PAH-specific therapy, 7 (43.8%) developed pulmonary edema (mostly with continuous intravenous epoprostenol, but also with oral bosentan and oral calcium channel blockers) at a median of 9 days after treatment initiation. Acute vasodilator testing with nitric oxide and clinical, functional, or hemodynamic characteristics were not predictive of the subsequent occurrence of pulmonary edema on treatment. Clinical outcomes of PVOD patients were worse than those of PAH patients. Abbreviations: BMPR2 = bone morphogenetic protein receptor II, CI = cardiac index, CT = computed tomography, DLCO = diffusing lung capacity of carbon monoxide, DLCO/VA = diffusing lung capacity of carbon monoxide/alveolar volume, FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in 1 second, HIV = human immunodeficiency virus, mPAP = mean pulmonary arterial pressure, mSAP = mean systolic arterial pressure, NO = nitric oxide, NYHA = New York Heart Association, PaCO2 = partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide, PAH = pulmonary arterial hypertension, PaO2 = partial pressure of arterial oxygen, PCWP = pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, PVOD = pulmonary venoocclusive disease, PVRi = indexed pulmonary vascular resistance, SpO2 = pulse arterial oxygen saturation, TLC = total lung capacity, TPRi = indexed total pulmonary resistance, VC = vital capacity.