Long-term pulmonary regurgitation following balloon valvuloplasty for pulmonary stenosis risk factors and relationship to exercise capacity and ventricular volume and function.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to examine the prevalence and predictors of pulmonary regurgitation (PR) following balloon dilation (BD) for pulmonary stenosis (PS) and to investigate its impact on ventricular volume and function, and exercise tolerance.


BACKGROUND
Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty relieves PS but can cause late PR. The sequelae of isolated PR are not well understood.


METHODS
Patients were at least 7 years of age and 5 years removed from BD, and had no other form of congenital heart disease or significant residual PS. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and exercise testing were performed prospectively to quantify PR fraction, ventricular volumes and function, and exercise capacity.


RESULTS
Forty-one patients underwent testing a median of 13.1 years after BD. The median PR fraction was 10%; 14 patients (34%) had PR fraction >15%; 7 (17%) had PR >30%. PR fraction was associated with age at dilation (ln-transformed, R = -0.47, p = 0.002) and balloon:annulus ratio (R = 0.57, p < 0.001). The mean right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic volume z-score was 1.8 +/- 1.9; RV dilation (z-score > or =2) was present in 14/35 patients (40%). PR fraction correlated closely with indexed RV end-diastolic volume (R = 0.79, p < 0.001) and modestly with RV ejection fraction (R = 0.50, p < 0.001). Overall, peak oxygen consumption (Vo(2)) (% predicted) was below average (92 +/- 17%, p = 0.006). Patients with PR fraction >15% had significantly lower peak Vo(2) than those with less PR (85 +/- 17% vs. 96 +/- 16%, p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Mild PR and RV dilation are common in the long term following BD. A PR fraction >15% is associated with lower peak Vo(2), suggesting that isolated PR and consequent RV dilation are related to impaired exercise cardiopulmonary function.
Harrild
David M
DM
Departments of Cardiology, Children's Hospital Boston, and Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. david.harrild@cardio.chboston.org
Powell
Andrew J
AJ
Tran
Trang X
TX
Trang
Trang X
TX
Geva
Tal
T
Lock
James E
JE
Rhodes
Jonathan
J
McElhinney
Doff B
DB
D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002306:Cardiac Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017380:Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011665:Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011666:Pulmonary Valve Stenosis / Q000151:congenital / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen