Left Ventricular Assist Devices in Pulmonary Hypertension Group 2 With Significantly Elevated Pulmonary Vascular Resistance: A Bridge to Cure.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension secondary to left heart disease (WHO Group 2) is a known risk factor in patients with heart failure. The favourable effect of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) on pulmonary hypertension has been demonstrated before, although this effect has not been well-studied in advanced pulmonary arterial bed disease with a significant elevation in pulmonary vascular resistance. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 258 LVAD patients in our institution. Patients with elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP>25mmHg) and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR ≥3 Wood units) were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups based on their baseline PVR (PVR=3-5 Wood units (WU) vs. PVR>5WU). The groups were studied for the changes in their pulmonary haemodynamics after the placement of LVAD. RESULTS: Fifty-one (51) patients were included in the study. All patients showed a significant improvement in their pulmonary haemodynamic parameters post LVAD placement. In the group with the higher PVR, mPAP dropped from a baseline of 43±7mmHg to 22±6mmHg post LVAD placement (p<0.001), while PVR dropped from 6.3±1.2 Wood units to 2.2±1.1 Wood units (p<0.001). In a subgroup of patients who underwent cardiac transplantation post LVAD (n=14), all patients maintained a normalised PVR (<3WU) one year post cardiac transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular assist devices can reverse pulmonary hypertension WHO Group 2 with significantly elevated PVR; this effect is not dependent on the baseline PVR, and is maintained up to one year post cardiac transplantation.

Plasma Serotonin in Heart Failure: Possible Marker and Potential Treatment Target.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between heart failure (HF) and the serotonergic system has been established in animal studies. However, data on human plasma serotonin level in HF and its significance over the course of the disease is lacking. METHODS: Serotonin levels were measured in 173 patients (108 males, 65 females), 116 were stable HF and 40 were acute decompensated HF patients. The normal control group included 17 healthy volunteers with no known medical or psychiatric conditions. Patients receiving medications affecting serotonin receptors and those with pulmonary hypertension were excluded. All patients, except for those in the decompensated group, were on stable doses of HF medications. RESULTS: Plasma serotonin levels were significantly elevated in decompensated HF patients compared with stable patients (P=0.002). Higher plasma serotonin levels were associated with worse HF symptoms (NYHA class) and the presence of systolic dysfunction, and was borderline associated with low peak oxygen consumption during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (P=0.055). These results were independent of age, gender, race, hypertension, diabetes, renal failure, weight, coronary artery disease (CAD), atrial fibrillation and medication use. CONCLUSIONS: Serotonin is a marker for decompensation in patients with chronic heart failure. Higher serotonin levels were associated with worse HF symptoms and systolic dysfunction.

Mortality and readmission rates in patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure: a comparison between cardiology and general-medicine service outcomes in an underserved population.

BACKGROUND: With recent legislation imposing penalties on hospitals for above-average 30-day all-cause readmissions for patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), there is concern these penalties will more heavily impact hospitals serving socioeconomically vulnerable and underserved populations. HYPOTHESIS: Patients with ADHF and low socioeconomic status have better postdischarge mortality and readmission outcomes when cardiologists are involved in their in-hospital care. METHODS: We retrospectively searched the electronic medical record for patients hospitalized for ADHF from 2001 to 2010 in 3 urban hospitals within a large university-based health system. These patients were divided into 2 groups based on whether a cardiologist was involved in their care or not. Measured outcomes were 30- and 60-day postdischarge mortality and readmission rates. RESULTS: Out of the 7516 ADHF patients, 1434 patients were seen by a cardiologist (19%). These patients had lower 60-day mortality (5.4% vs 7.0%; hazard ratio [HR]: 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.52-0.96, P = 0.034) and lower 30- and 60-day readmission rates (16.7% vs 20.6%; HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.66-0.89, P = 0.002, and 26.1% vs 30.2%; HR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.72-0.92, P = 0.003, respectively). There was no significant difference in the in-hospital mortality between the 2 groups. Compared with other races, whites with systolic HF have marginally lower HF-related readmission rates when treated by cardiologists. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of ADHF patients from the Bronx, New York, involvement of a cardiologist resulted in improved short-term mortality and readmission outcomes compared with treatment by general internal medicine.