Acute vasoreactivity test results in severe pulmonary hypertension patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: our experience with 29 cases

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographical, clinical, and laboratory variables in the whole study group

Variable
Age (years)	63.4±7.5 (45–78)
Sex
Female (n, %)	17 (58.6%)
Male (n, %)	12 (41.4%)
Body mass index (kg/m^2)	27.3±5.7 (18–40)
Smoking habit
Yes (n, %)	16 (55.2%)
No (n, %)	13 (44.8%)
Biomass exposure
Yes (n, %)	17 (58.6%)
No (n, %)	12 (41.4%)
Coronary artery disease
Yes (n, %)	9 (31%)
No (n, %)	20 (69%)
Vasoreactivity test
Positive (n, %)	12 (41.4%)
Negative (n, %)	17 (58.6%)
Ejection fraction (%)‡	57.5±4.2 (50–68)
FEV1 (L)‡	40.5±14.3 (14–86)
FEV1/FVC‡	64.0±3.8 (52–68)
FVC (L)‡	49.0±15.8 (27–85)
Systolic PAP (mmHg)#	65.0±13.6 (33–90)
Duration of COPD (years)#	8.0±4.3 (3–20)
Oxygen saturation (%)#	77.2±10.7 (58–93)
PO2 (mmHg)#	46.1±10.8 (20–66)
PCO2 (mmHg)#	49.3±8.3 (33–68)
pH‡	7.38±0.02 (7.35–7.44)
HCO3 concentration (mmol/L)#	27.4±3.4 (23–35)

Notes:

‡ Expressed as median ± interquartile range.

# Expressed as mean ± standard deviation.

Abbreviations: FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; PO₂, oxygen pressure; PCO₂, carbon dioxide pressure; HCO₃, bicarbonate; PAP, pulmonary artery pressure.

Table 2 Comparison of parameters under investigation in patients with positive and negative vasoreactivity test results

Variable	Vasoreactivity test		P-value
	Negative	Positive
Age (years)	62.3±7.8	64.8±7.3	0.38
Hypertension
Absent (n, %)	13 (76.5%)	9 (75%)	1
Present (n, %)	4 (23.5%)	3 (25%)
Coronary artery disease
Absent (n, %)	12 (70.6%)	8 (66.7%)	1
Present (n, %)	5 (29.4%)	4 (33.3%)
Biomass exposure
Absent (n, %)	7 (41.2%)	5 (41.7%)	1
Present (n, %)	10 (58.8%)	7 (58.3%)
Diabetes mellitus
Absent (n, %)	11 (64.7%)	10 (83.3%)	0.41
Present (n, %)	6 (35.3%)	2 (16.7%)
Smoking habit
Absent (n, %)	8 (47.1%)	5 (41.7%)	1
Present (n, %)	9 (52.9%)	7 (58.3%)
Body mass index (kg/m^2)	27.5±6.1	27.1±5.3	0.86
Ejection fraction (%)‡	56.0±5.0	60.0±5.0	0.52
FEV1 (L)‡	40.0±12.0	39.0±20.0	0.85
FEV1/FVC‡	64.0±3.0	64.50±4.0	0.82
FVC %‡	48.0±11.0	45.0±30.5	0.51
Systolic PAP (mmHg)#	65.8±12.4	63.8±15.7	0.71
Duration of COPD (years)‡	8.0±4.0	6.0±4.5	0.39
Oxygen saturation (%)#	76.5±9.9	78.2±11.9	0.89
PO2 (mmHg)#	47.0±9.0	44.8±13.1	0.60
PCO2 (mmHg)#	51.2±7.7	46.8±8.7	0.16
pH‡	7.38±0.02	7.39±0.04	0.46
HCO3 (mmol/L)#	27.9±3.6	26.8±3.1	0.36

Notes:

‡ Expressed as median ± interquartile range.

# Expressed as mean ± standard deviation.

Abbreviations: FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; PO₂, oxygen pressure; PCO₂, carbon dioxide pressure; HCO₃, bicarbonate; PAP, pulmonary artery pressure.

Table 3 Alterations of systolic, diastolic, and mean pulmonary arterial pressures before and after iloprost administration

Parameter (mmHg)	Vasoreactivity test		P-value
	Negative	Positive
Systolic PAP prior to iloprost	69±22	68.5±20.5	<0.001*
Systolic PAP after iloprost	66±23	51±19
Change in systolic PAP before and after iloprost	3±4	13.5±6.5
Diastolic PAP prior to iloprost	28±15	29.5±10.5	<0.001*
Diastolic PAP after iloprost	28±16	20±6
Change in diastolic PAP before and after iloprost	1±4	9.5±9
Mean PAP prior to iloprost	40±17	40±11.5	<0.001*
Mean PAP after iloprost	36±18	26.5±8.5
Change in mean PAP before and after iloprost	2±2	11±8

Notes: Data is expressed as median ± interquartile range.

* Statistically significant (P<0.05).

Abbreviation: PAP, pulmonary artery pressure.

Table 4 Changes in systolic, diastolic, and mean pulmonary artery pressures (PAP) after iloprost administration in vasoreactivity test negative and positive patients

Parameter (mmHg)	Vasoreactivity test		P-value
	Negative (n, %)	Positive (n, %)
Change in systolic PAP
<6	17 (100%)	0	<0.001*
≥6	0	12 (100%)
Change in diastolic PAP
<4.5	15 (88.2%)	3 (25%)	0.003*
≥4.5	2 (11.8%)	9 (75%)
Change in mean PAP
<6.5	16 (94.1%)	3 (25%)	<0.001*
≥.5	1 (5.9%)	9 (75%)

Note:

* Statistically significant (P<0.05).