"Grey zone" of vasoreactivity during acute vasodilator testing in patients with pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

Aim - to analyze functional status and hemodynamic changes in patients who demonstrate vasoreactivity but doesn’t reach the criteria of "positive respond" ("grey zone") and to compare this data with "responders" and "true non-responders". Material and methods. We enrolled 159 patients with pulmonary hypertension. Right heart catheterization with acute vasodilator testing was performed in all cases. Depending on hemodynamic respond during acute vasoreactivity testing patients were divided in to three groups: "responders", "true non-responders" and patients in the "grey zone". The following parameters were analyzed in all included patients: basic clinical parameters, hemodynamic changes, right ventricle size, right atrium area, 6-minute walking test distance and time to clinical worsening. Results. In our study it was shown that patients of "grey zone" had several clinical and hemodynamic parameters that differ significantly from patients "responders" and "true non-responders". Patients in the "grey zone" also have the longest time to clinical worsening.