Pathogenesis and progression mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure associated with left heart failure

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K08070
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53020:Cardiology-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: SERA FUSAKO 大阪大学, 医学系研究科, 特任助教(常勤) (70794139)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 肺高血圧症 / 心不全

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we examined genetic risk factors and noninvasive risk stratification of pulmonary hypertension in left heart failure. For genetic risk, we found that in left heart failure patients with pulmonary hypertension, those with genetic mutations associated with pulmonary hypertension had a worse prognosis than those without mutations.
For noninvasive risk stratification, we studied in heart failure hospitalized patients with preserved ejection fraction and showed that pulmonary hypertension with increased pulmonary vascular resistance is associated with death and heart failure hospitalization one year after discharge. Among the echocardiographic indices, left ventricular diameter of 48 mm or less and E/e'16.5 or greater were shown to be useful for risk stratification.

Free Research Field

心不全　肺高血圧症

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現在まで、肺高血圧および右心不全を発症した心不全に対する確立した治療法はありませんが、症例報告レベルでは、肺血管拡張薬が奏功した報告もあることから、適切な層別化により肺血管拡張薬などの既存の薬剤の恩恵を得られる症例が存在する可能性も考えられます。また、実臨床においてハイリスク症例を早期に同定できれば、予後悪化の連鎖を食い止めるために肺動脈や右室機能不全をターゲットとした重症化予防のための新規治療戦略の確立につながることが期待されます。