Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease (Oct 2017)
Late Onset Postcapillary Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients With Transposition of the Great Arteries and Mustard or Senning Baffles
Abstract
BackgroundThere is a paucity of data regarding late‐onset pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with transposition of the great arteries and atrial switch surgery. Methods and ResultsA retrospective cohort study was conducted on 140 adults with transposition of the great arteries and atrial switch surgery, age 37.3±7.8, 37.1% female, in order to assess the prevalence and characteristics of late‐onset PH and explore associated factors. Patients were followed for a median of 32.3 years after atrial switch surgery and 10.0 years after their first referral visit. PH was detected in 18 of 33 (54.5%) patients who had invasive hemodynamic studies. Average age at diagnosis of PH was 33.9±8.1 years. PH was postcapillary in all, with a mean pulmonary artery pressure of 36±12 mm Hg and mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 28±8 mm Hg. PH was diagnosed in 13 of 17 (76.5%) patients who had cardiac catheterization for heart failure or decreased exercise tolerance. In multivariable analyses, systemic hypertension (odds ratio 9.4, 95% confidence interval 2.2‐39.4, P=0.002) and heart failure or New York Heart Association class III or IV symptoms (odds ratio 49.8, 95% confidence interval 8.6‐289.0, P<0.001) were independently associated with PH. Patients with PH were more likely to develop cardiovascular comorbidities including atrial (P=0.001) and ventricular (P=0.008) arrhythmias, require hospitalizations for heart failure (P<0.001), and undergo tricuspid valve surgery (P<0.001). Mortality was significantly higher in patients with PH (hazard ratio 9.4, 95% confidence interval 2.1‐43.0], P<0.001). ConclusionsLate‐onset postcapillary PH is highly prevalent in adults with transposition of the great arteries and atrial switch surgery and is associated with an adverse prognosis.
Keywords
