Published ahead of print on March 20, 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200712-1876OC
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Volume 177, Number 12, June 2008, 1364-1369
A more recent version of this article appeared on June 15, 2008
Submitted on December 21, 2007
Accepted on March 20, 2008
Hyponatremia Predicts Right Heart Failure and Poor Survival in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Paul R Forfia1*, Stephen C Mathai2, Micah R Fisher3, Traci Housten-Harris2, Anna R Hemnes4, Hunter C Champion5, Reda E Girgis2, and Paul M Hassoun2
1 Cardiology Division, Heart Failure-Transplant and Pulmonary Hypertension Programs, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA,
2 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA,
3 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA,
4 Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA,
5 Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: paul.forfia{at}uphs.upenn.edu.
Rationale-Hyponatremia is associated with decompensated heart failure and poor prognosis in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
Objectives- We sought to determine if hyponatremia is associated with right heart failure and worse prognosis in patients with PAH.
Methods-We prospectively followed 40 patients with PAH and examined the relationship between serum sodium and right heart function as well as survival.
Results-Hyponatremic subjects (Na 136 mEq/L) were more symptomatic (11/13 WHO class III/IV vs. 12/27 III/IV; P=0.02), had more peripheral edema (69% vs. 26%; P=0.009), and had higher hospitalization rates (85% vs. 41%; P=0.009) vs. normonatremic subjects. Hyponatremic subjects had higher right atrial pressure (14±6 vs. 9±3 mmHg; P<0.001), lower stroke volume index (21±7 vs. 32±10 ml/m2; P<0.01), larger RV:LV area ratio (1.8±0.4 vs. 1.3±0.4; P<0.001), and lower tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE; 1.4±0.3 vs. 2.0±0.6 cm; P=0.001), despite similar mean pulmonary artery pressure (49±10 vs. 47±12 mmHg; P=0.60). The one/two-year survival estimates were 93% (95% CI, 73-98%)/85% (95% CI, 65-94%), and 38% (95% CI, 14-63%)/15% (95% CI, 2-39%) for normonatremic and hyponatremic subjects, respectively (log-rank 2=25.19, P<0.001). The unadjusted risk of death (HR) in hyponatremic and normonatremic subjects was 10.16 (95% CI, 3.42-30.10, P<0.001). Hyponatremia predicted outcome after adjusting for WHO class, diuretic use, as well as right atrial pressure and cardiac index.
Conclusions- Hyponatremia is strongly associated with right heart failure and poor survival in PAH.
Key words: hyponatremia, pulmonary heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure
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