title: Transcatheter closure of large patent ductus arteriosus with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension in adults: immediate and two-year follow-up results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a well established procedure and an accepted treatment modality for small to moderate-sized PDA. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate and follow-up results of transcatheter closure of large PDAs with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  After a complete hemodynamic evaluation differentiating from the reversibility of severe PAH, transcatheter closure of PDA was performed. Patients were followed up clinically and echocardiographically at 24 hours, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months after occlusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine patients had successful occlusion, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fractional shortening (FS) significantly decreased immediately after occlusion ((106 ± 25) mmHg vs. (50 ± 14) mmHg, P < 0.01; (63.7 ± 7.2)% vs. (51.4 ± 10.1)%, P < 0.01 and (36.9 ± 8.2)% vs. (28.9 ± 8.6)%, P < 0.05, respectively). At 1 month after PDA closure, the signs and symptoms improved markedly in all 29 patients, and PDAs were completely closed and remained closed during the follow-up. Eighteen patients having different degrees of dyspnea were treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and/or digoxin after occlusion. Nine patients whose pulmonary vascular resistence (PVR) > 6 Wood units accepted targeted PAH therapy. After 1 to 3 months of peroral drug therapy, their exercise tolerance improved from New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV to NYHA class I. During follow-up, no latent arrhythmias were found, the left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and FS and LVEF recovered compared to the immediate postclosure state. However, FS and LVEF remained low compared to the preclosure state.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transcatheter closure of large PDA with severe PAH is feasible, effective, and safe in adults. Significant left ventricular systolic changes may occur after closure of large PDA, and left ventricular function usually recovers within a few months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Guangdong General Hospital & Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510100, China. yszcj74@163.com
authors.forename: Cao-Jin
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi-Gao
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xin-Sheng
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wen-Hui
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chun-Li
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Yu-Jing
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Mo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D065627:Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling