Cardiac Function and Exercise Capacity in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Cardiac Function and Exercise Capacity in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension is characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance inducing shortness of breath and exercise intolerance. We aim to correlate cardiac function (evaluated at rest by right heart catheterism and RMN) to exercise capacity (evaluated by endurance time at 75% of maximal workout), in prevalent patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, and their evolution at three and twelve months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients
• Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (idiopathic, heritable or due to anorexigens),
• Prevalent cases of pulmonary artery hypertension (≥ 6 months) confirmed by right heart catheterism,
• Stable for at least 3 months,
• Written consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients unable to proceed with six-minute walk test or CPET, or with contra-indication to exercise evaluation (syncope, low cardiac index, etc).
• Exercise induced abnormality (evaluated during the initial CPET) precluding to further evaluation.