title: Pulmonary artery hypertension in severe aortic stenosis: incidence and mechanism.
abstract: We investigated the incidence and mechanism of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in a consecutive series of patients with aortic stenosis who were undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Forty-five patients with severe aortic stenosis were divided into two groups: group 1 comprised 13 patients (29%) with PAH (pulmonary artery systolic pressure > 50 mm Hg); group 2 comprised 32 patients (71%) without PAH. Group 1 patients had a higher incidence of congestive heart failure, a lower left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac index, and more mitral regurgitation as compared with group 2 patients. Of the 13 group 1 patients, 8 had a transpulmonary gradient (pulmonary artery mean pressure--pulmonary capillary wedge pressure) > or = 10 mm Hg, consistent with reactive PAH. We conclude that PAH frequently accompanies aortic stenosis and is often reactive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01655.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Silver
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aurigemma
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krendel
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ockene
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alpert
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015994:Incidence; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure