Pulmonary artery pulsatility index in patients with tricuspid valve regurgitation: a simple non-invasive tool for risk stratification

AIMS: Tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) is a common valvular disease associated with increased mortality. There is a need for tools to assess the interaction between the pulmonary artery (PA) circulation and the right ventricle in patients with TR and to investigate their association with outcomes. The pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) has emerged as a haemodynamic risk predictor in left heart disease and pulmonary hypertension (PH). Whether PAPi discriminates risk in unselected patients with greater than or equal to moderate TR is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 5079 patients with greater than or equal to moderate TR (regardless of aetiology) and PA systolic and diastolic pressures measured on their first echocardiogram, we compared all-cause mortality at 5 years based on the presence or absence of PH and PAPi levels. A total of 2741 (54%) patients had PH. The median PAPi was 3.0 (IQR 1.9, 4.4). Both the presence of PH and decreasing levels of PAPi were associated with larger right ventricles, worse right ventricular systolic function, higher NT-pro BNP levels, greater degrees of right heart failure, and worse survival. In a subset of patients who had an echo and right heart catheterization within 24 h, the correlation of non-invasive to invasive PA pressures and PAPi levels was very good (r = 0.76). CONCLUSION: In patients with greater than or equal to moderate TR with and without PH, lower PAPi is associated with right ventricular dysfunction, right heart failure, and worse survival. Incorporating PA pressure and PAPi may help stratify disease severity in patients with greater than or equal to moderate TR regardless of aetiology.