title: Pulmonary arterial dilatation in pulmonary hypertension: prevalence and prognostic relevance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pulmonary arterial dilatation is considered a consequence of chronic pulmonary hypertension (PH), but despite its relatively common detection, its prevalence and prognostic impact have not yet been systematically investigated. The aim of the study was to investigate these factors in a relatively large cohort of severe PH patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-one consecutive patients diagnosed with PH were monitored for a mean of 957 days. Data including functional class, exercise capacity, invasive hemodynamics and pulmonary artery (PA) echo/CT scan measurement were performed and outcomes prospectively collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PA dilatation is a common feature, present in the 76.6% of cases in this cohort of severe PH patients. Survival at 1, 2 and 3 years was 83, 71 and 58%, respectively. On univariate analysis, the baseline variables associated with a poor outcome were related to pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with connective tissue disease (CDT-PAH), New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, 6-min walk test and right atrial pressure. On multivariate analysis only CDT-PAH and NYHA functional class remained independently associated with poor survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PA dilatation is commonly detected in severe PH patients and is not associated with an increased risk of death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Science, I School of Medicine, University of Rome Sapienza-Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy. roberto.badagliacca@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Badagliacca
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poscia
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pezzuto
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nona
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mancone
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mezzapesa
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nocioni
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sciomer
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valli
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cedrone
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.forename: Carmine Dario
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Vizza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D065627:Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D055815:Young Adult