The right ventricle explains sex differences in survival in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Male sex is an independent predictor of worse survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This finding might be explained by more severe pulmonary vascular disease, worse right ventricular (RV) function, or different response to therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying cause of sex differences in survival in patients treated for PAH.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of 101 patients with PAH (82 idiopathic, 15 heritable, four anorexigen associated) who were diagnosed at VU University Medical Centre between February 1999 and January 2011 and underwent right-sided heart catheterization and cardiac MRI to assess RV function. Change in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was taken as a measure of treatment response in the pul

SUBMITTER: Jacobs W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4042511 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature