Risk Factors of Pregnancy Outcome in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to explore the factors affecting the pregnancy outcome of patients with pulmonary hypertension, and to design a digital model predicting the pregnancy outcome of patients and judge whether patients have the conditions to continue pregnancy. METHODS: The clinical data of patients with pregnancy complicated with pulmonary hypertension hospitalized in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The severity of pulmonary hypertension, the structural and functional indexes measured by echocardiography were compared, and the effects on maternal and neonatal outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 158 patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results showed that tricuspid regurgitation velocity (P<0.001), right ventricular diameter (P<0.05), right atrial diameter (P<0.05), pulmonary artery diameter (P<0.001) and cardiac function classification (P<0.001) were risk factors for maternal outcomes; Tricuspid regurgitation velocity (P<0.001) and structural changes of right heart were risk factors for neonatal outcomes. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, tricuspid regurgitation velocity (P<0.001), cardiac function (P<0.05) and superior inferior diameter of right atrium (P<0.05) were significant risk factors for maternal outcomes, while tricuspid regurgitation velocity (P<0.001) and superior inferior diameter of right atrium (P<0.05) were significant risk factors for neonatal outcomes. Using significant risk factors, a risk score system was established to predict the pregnancy outcome. CONCLUSION: in this study, we analyzed the clinical data of patients with pregnancy complicated with pulmonary hypertension in our hospital in recent years, and found that the changes of right heart structure (the acceleration of tricuspid regurgitation velocity, and the increase of right atrium, right ventricular diameter, right ventricular outflow tract anteroposterior diameter and main pulmonary artery diameter), are influencing factors of pregnancy outcomes in patients with pulmonary hypertension. In addition, we preliminarily designed a risk score through multi factor analysis, which is helpful to predict the possible outcome of puerperium and neonatal outcomes of patients, and to provide some reference for clinicians and patients to make decisions on whether to continue pregnancy in clinical practice.

Novel computed-tomography derived prognostic markers in patients undergoing TAVI with a self-expanding valve

Introduction Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is the treatment of choice in a consistently expanding group of patients with severe aortic valve stenosis. Tricuspid and mitral annular dilatation with consequent valvular regurgitation are associated with adverse outcome. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is routinely performed for preprocedural evaluation of vascular access and prosthesis sizing. Purpose To evaluate the impact of mitral and tricuspid annular dimensions in preprocedural CTA on prognosis of patients undergoing TAVI with a self-expanding valve. Methods CTAs of consecutive patients undergoing TAVI in a single high-volume center between 2016 and 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Maximal septolateral tricuspid annular diameters (TAD) and mitral annular diameters (MAD) were obtained and measured from properly angulated three dimensional CTA datasets. Moreover, maximal pulmonary artery diameter perpendicular to the long axis was measured in every patient. Patients were followed up by clinical visits or telephone contacts. As clinical events were defined all-cause mortality, stroke and heart failure hospitalization. Results In total 123 patients were included in the study. The mean follow-up duration was 875±383 days and 21 clinical events were recorded. There was a moderate but statistical significant correlation between TAD and both pulmonary artery diameter (r=0.39, p&lt;0.001) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure by echocardiography (r=0.23, p=0.015). In univariate logistic regression analysis pulmonary artery diameter and TAD were both associated with heart failure hospitalization (p=0.03 and 0.02 respectively). In addition, MAD was associated with total events (OR: 0.43, 95% CI 0.19–0.99, p=0.048). The relationship of MAD with events remained significant after adjustment for sex, age and tricuspid annular dimensions (OR: 0.28, 95% CI 0.1–0.79, p=0.02). Conclusions TAD and MAD were associated with heart failure rehospitalization and clinical events respectively in patients undergoing TAVI with a self-expanding valve. Further larger prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the prognostic value of these CTA markers. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

CHANGING OF PULMONARY ARTERY DIAMETER IN ACCORDANCE WITH SEVERITY OF COVID-19 (ASSESSMENT BASED ON NON-CONTRAST COMPUTER TOMOGRAPHY)

Backgraund: search for the causes of the severe course of COVID-19 by computed tomography of chest, in particular, to clarify the contribution of pulmonary hypertension in the severe course of COVID-19 Aims: To establish the relationship between the expansion of the pulmonary artery and an increase in the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia. Material and methods: This is a retrospective cohort study performed on a group of patients (n = 511, 267 male. Median 59, IQR 49.065.0, min 31 max 84 y.o.) treated in a COVID-19 temporary hospital. Chest CT was performed on a portable computed tomography Airo TruCT (Stryker, USA). The degree of damage of the lung parenchyma was assessed by the CT scale 1(25%); 2(25-50%) 3(50-75%), 4(75%). The diameters of the main pulmonary artery (PA), aorta (Ao) and PA/Ao ratio were measured. Results: The following statistically evident results were obtained: expansion of the pulmonary artery (PA) and PA/Ao ratio increased with rise of the degree of lung damage in COVID-19. Expansion of the aorta was significantly correlated with increasing age of the patients. Discussion: We suggested, this fact and noted expansion of PA in 52.0-65.5% of patients with severe COVID-19 (CT 3-4) is an indicator of a high incidence of pulmonary hypertension in this disease. This requires additional research. Conclusion: It has been shown that the expansion of the pulmonary artery and an increase in the ratio of PA/Ao diameters are associated with an increase in the severity of COVID-19 in all age groups. KEYWORDS COVID-19, pulmonary artery, pulmonary hypertension, aorta, computed tomography.

The Value of Dual-Source CT in the Diagnosis of Anomalous Origin of Pulmonary Artery

Objective: This study is designed to explore the dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) imaging manifestations of the origin of three rare pulmonary artery abnormalities, and to improve the understanding and diagnosis of the disease.Methods: Collected 30 cases of patients diagnosed by DSCT with pulmonary artery abnormal origins, and retrospectively analyzed their imaging data and postoperative pathological data.Results: Among the 30 patients with abnormal pulmonary artery origin, 16 patients were with unilateral pulmonary artery absence (UAPA), 8 patients were with anomalous origin of unilateral pulmonary artery (AOPA), and 6 patients were left pulmonary artery suspension (LPAS). The diagnosis rate of DSCT is significantly higher than that of echocardiography. The results of DSCT imaging showed that the inner diameter of the ascending aorta, the aortic arch and the descending aorta of UAPA patients were significantly larger than those of LPAS patients (P<0.05). Compared with AOPA patients, the left pulmonary artery diameter, the ratio of the left main pulmonary artery diameter to the main pulmonary artery diameter, and ratio of the left main pulmonary artery diameter to the right main pulmonary artery diameter were significantly increased in UAPA patients (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the ratio of the inner diameter of the ascending aorta to the descending aorta in patients with UAPA, AOPA and LPAS. Compared with UAPA patients, AOPA patients had no significant changes in the inner diameter of the main pulmonary artery, the inner diameter of the right main pulmonary artery, and the ratio of the inner diameter of the right main pulmonary artery to the main pulmonary artery.Conclusion: DSCT can be used to diagnose the origin of pulmonary artery abnormalities and distinguish its types.

Widespread Parenchymal Abnormalities and Pulmonary Embolism on Contrast-Enhanced CT Predict Disease Severity and Mortality in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

Purpose: Severe COVID-19 is associated with inflammation, thromboembolic disease, and high mortality. We studied factors associated with fatal outcomes in consecutive COVID-19 patients examined by computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA).Methods: This retrospective, single-center cohort analysis included 130 PCR-positive patients hospitalized for COVID-19 [35 women and 95 men, median age 57 years (interquartile range 51–64)] with suspected pulmonary embolism based on clinical suspicion. The presence and extent of embolism and parenchymal abnormalities on CTPA were recorded. The severity of pulmonary parenchymal involvement was stratified by two experienced radiologists into two groups: lesions affecting ≤50% or &gt;50% of the parenchyma. Patient characteristics, radiological aspects, laboratory parameters, and 60-day mortality data were collected.Results: Pulmonary embolism was present in 26% of the patients. Most emboli were small and peripheral. Patients with widespread parenchymal abnormalities, with or without pulmonary embolism, had increased main pulmonary artery diameter (p &lt; 0.05) and higher C-reactive protein (p &lt; 0.01), D-dimer (p &lt; 0.01), and troponin T (p &lt; 0.001) and lower hemoglobin (p &lt; 0.001). A wider main pulmonary artery diameter correlated positively with C-reactive protein (r = 0.28, p = 0.001, and n = 130) and procalcitonin. In a multivariant analysis, D-dimer &gt;7.2 mg/L [odds ratio (±95% confidence interval) 4.1 (1.4–12.0)] and ICU stay were significantly associated with embolism (p &lt; 0.001). The highest 60-day mortality was found in patients with widespread parenchymal abnormalities combined with pulmonary embolism (36%), followed by patients with widespread parenchymal abnormalities without pulmonary embolism (26%). In multivariate analysis, high troponin T, D-dimer, and plasma creatinine and widespread parenchymal abnormalities on CT were associated with 60-day mortality.Conclusions: Pulmonary embolism combined with widespread parenchymal abnormalities contributed to mortality risk in COVID-19. Elevated C-reactive protein, D-dimer, troponin-T, P-creatinine, and enlarged pulmonary artery were associated with a worse outcome and may mirror a more severe systemic disease. A liberal approach to radiological investigation should be recommended at clinical deterioration, when the situation allows it. Computed tomography imaging, even without intravenous contrast to assess the severity of pulmonary infiltrates, are of value to predict outcome in COVID-19. Better radiological techniques with higher resolution could potentially improve the detection of microthromboses. This could influence anticoagulant treatment strategies, preventing clinical detoriation.

Machine Learning to Predict In-Hospital Mortality in COVID-19 Patients Using Computed Tomography-Derived Pulmonary and Vascular Features

Pulmonary parenchymal and vascular damage are frequently reported in COVID-19 patients and can be assessed with unenhanced chest computed tomography (CT), widely used as a triaging exam. Integrating clinical data, chest CT features, and CT-derived vascular metrics, we aimed to build a predictive model of in-hospital mortality using univariate analysis (Mann–Whitney U test) and machine learning models (support vectors machines (SVM) and multilayer perceptrons (MLP)). Patients with RT-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and unenhanced chest CT performed on emergency department admission were included after retrieving their outcome (discharge or death), with an 85/15% training/test dataset split. Out of 897 patients, the 229 (26%) patients who died during hospitalization had higher median pulmonary artery diameter (29.0 mm) than patients who survived (27.0 mm, p < 0.001) and higher median ascending aortic diameter (36.6 mm versus 34.0 mm, p < 0.001). SVM and MLP best models considered the same ten input features, yielding a 0.747 (precision 0.522, recall 0.800) and 0.844 (precision 0.680, recall 0.567) area under the curve, respectively. In this model integrating clinical and radiological data, pulmonary artery diameter was the third most important predictor after age and parenchymal involvement extent, contributing to reliable in-hospital mortality prediction, highlighting the value of vascular metrics in improving patient stratification.