[Pulmonary hypertension during exercise in toxic oil syndrome]. / Hipertensión pulmonar con el ejercicio en el síndrome del aceite tóxico.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Toxic oil syndrome is a risk factor for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and new cases of this entity are emerging after more than 20 years since the initial toxic oil epidemic. Abnormal elevation of pulmonary systolic pressure with exercise may be considered an early marker of PAH in populations at risk. We aimed to analyze the pulmonary systolic pressure with exercise echocardiography in toxic oil syndrome patients. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 50 toxic oil syndrome patients (cases), and 20 healthy control subjects were submitted to rest and peak exercise echocardiography (semi supine cycloergometer) measuring pulmonary systolic pressure. In toxic oil syndrome patients, pulmonary carbon monoxide diffusion capacity was also analyzed. RESULTS: Peak exercise pulmonary systolic pressure was statistically similar in cases and controls. Nevertheless, 8% of cases reached a pulmonary systolic pressure > or = 80 mmHg and this fact was associated with mild pulmonary arterial hypertension, reduced right ventricular function and abnormal pulmonary diffusion capacity in the rest study. A rest pulmonary systolic pressure cut-off value > or = 27 mmHg had a 100% sensitivity and 71% specificity to predict a peak exercise systolic pulmonary pressure > or = 80 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: A minority of toxic oil syndrome patients develop severe pulmonary arterial hypertension during exercise. This abnormal response is associated with other markers of pulmonary vasculopathy. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relation between these findings and the likelihood to develop pulmonary arterial hypertension in the future.

Hipertensión pulmonar con el ejercicio en el síndrome del aceite tóxico / Pulmonary hypertension during exercise in toxic oil syndrome

Fundamento y objetivo: Los pacientes con síndrome del aceite tóxico son una población de riesgo de padecer hipertensión arterial pulmonar. La elevación anómala de la presión sistólica pulmonar (PSP) durante el ejercicio podría considerarse un marcador temprano de hipertensión pulmonar en poblaciones de riesgo. El objetivo del presente estudio ha sido analizar mediante ecocardiografía la respuesta de la PSP al ejercicio en pacientes con síndrome del aceite tóxico. Pacientes y método: Se estudió a 50 pacientes con síndrome del aceite tóxico y a 20 voluntarios sanos con ecocardiograma en reposo y en el máximo ejercicio (cicloergómetro semisupino) y se midió la PSP. En los pacientes se determinó la capacidad de difusión de monóxido de carbono. Resultados: No se observaron diferencias en el valor medio de la PSP en el ejercicio entre los pacientes y los voluntarios sanos. En un 8% de los primeros se observó un valor igual o superior a 80 mmHg, lo que se asoció a hipertensión pulmonar leve en reposo, disminución de la función ventricular derecha y trastornos de la difusión pulmonar. Un valor de corte de la PSP en reposo igual o superior a 27 mmHg tuvo una sensibilidad del 100% y una especificidad del 71% para predecir una PSP pico de 80 mmHg o superior. Conclusiones: Una minoría de pacientes con síndrome del aceite tóxico muestra hipertensión pulmonar grave con el ejercicio. Este tipo de respuesta anormal se asocia a otros marcadores de vasculopatía pulmonar. Futuros estudios han de esclarecer la relación entre estas anomalías y el riesgo de desarrollar ulteriormente hipertensión arterial pulmonar

Background and objective: Toxic oil syndrome is a risk factor for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and new cases of this entity are emerging after more than 20 years since the initial toxic oil epidemic. Abnormal elevation of pulmonary systolic pressure with exercise may be considered an early marker of PAH in populations at risk. We aimed to analyze the pulmonary systolic pressure with exercise echocardiography in toxic oil syndrome patients. Patients and method: 50 toxic oil syndrome patients (cases), and 20 healthy control subjects were submitted to rest and peak exercise echocardiography (semi supine cicloergometer) measuring pulmonary systolic pressure. In toxic oil syndrome patients, pulmonary carbon monoxide diffusion capacity was also analyzed. Results: Peak exercise pulmonary systolic pressure was statistically similar in cases and controls. Nevertheless, 8% of cases reached a pulmonary systolic pressure >= 80 mmHg and this fact was associated with mild pulmonary arterial hypertension, reduced right ventricular function and abnormal pulmonary diffusion capacity in the rest study. A rest pulmonary systolic pressure cut-off value >= 27 mmHg had a 100% sensitivity and 71% specificity to predict a peak exercise systolic pulmonary pressure >= 80 mmHg. Conclusions: A minority of toxic oil syndrome patients develop severe pulmonary arterial hypertension during exercise. This abnormal response is associated with other markers of pulmonary vasculopathy. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relation between these findings and the likelihood to develop pulmonary arterial hypertension in the future