Key Points
- This study aims to investigate pulmonary vascular changes in patients with chronic heart failure and their correlation with haemodynamic data.
- Studied 17 heart transplant recipients with preoperative chronic heart failure who died shortly after transplantation.
- Obtained preoperative haemodynamic information immediately before heart transplantation.
- Assessed vascular lesions in muscular arteries using linear morphometry.
- Mean transpulmonary gradient was 8.9±4.5 mm Hg with pulmonary vascular resistance at 2.25±1.34 Wu.
- Six patients exhibited at-risk pulmonary hypertension based on the threshold criteria (TPG>12 mm Hg or PVR>2.5 Wu).
- Medial thickness was significantly higher in patients with at-risk pulmonary hypertension (23.82±7.23%) compared to those without (17.16±3.24%, p=0.018).
Structured PICO
PPopulation17 heart transplant recipients with preoperative chronic heart failure who died shortly after heart transplantation
OOutcomeVascular lesions in muscular arteries assessed by linear morphometry (medial thickness) and correlation with preoperative haemodynamic datasurrogate
Medial hypertrophy of muscular pulmonary arteries is common in patients with chronic heart failure, even without at-risk pulmonary hypertension, potentially explaining post-transplant right ventricular failure risk.