850-Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Pharmacy (Anderson) Flashcards
(43 cards)
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) defined as:
A sustained elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure greater than or equal to 25 mmHg (nl=15 mmHg), with a mean PCWP or LVEDP less than or equal to 15 mmHg
(Ultimately leads to right ventricular failure and death)
PAH symptoms:
- Fatigue
- dyspnea
- weakness
- dyspnea on exertion (DOE)
-Less common symptoms include: chest pain, near-syncope, syncope, peripheral edema, and palpitations
World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of PAH
Group 1:
- Idiopathic PAH (IPAH)
- Familial PAH (FPAH)
- Associated with APAH:
- Connective tissue disease
- Congenital systemic to pulmonary shunts (large, small, repaired or nonreparied)
- Portal Hypertension
- HIV infection
- Drugs and toxins
- Other (glycogen storage disease, gaucher disease, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, hemoglobinopathies, myeloproliferative disorders, splenectomy) - Associated with significant venous or capillary involvement:
- Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease
- Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis - Persistent PAH of the newborn
(WHO) Classification of PAH
Group 2: PAH with left heart disease
- Left-sided atrial or ventricular heart disease
2. Left-sided valvular disease
(WHO) Classification of PAH
Group 3: PAH associated lung disease and/or hypoxemia
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Interstitial lung disease
- Sleep-disordered breathing
- Alveolar hypoventilation disorders
- Chronic exposure to high altitude
- Developmental abnormalities
(WHO) Classification of PAH
Group 4: PAH due to chronic thrombotic disease and/or embolic disease (CTEPH)
- Thromboembolic obstruction of PROXIMAL pulmonary arteries
- Thromboembolic obstruction of DISTAL pulmonary arteries
- Nonthrombotic pulmonary embolism (tumor, parasites, foreign material)
(WHO) Classification of PAH
Group 5: Miscellaneous
- Sarcoidosis, pulmonary Langerhans’ - cell histiocytosis, lymphangiomatosis, compression of pulmonary vessels (adenopathy, tumor, fibrosing mediatinitis)
Sarcoidosis: abnormal collection of inflammatory cells that form lumps.
Pathophysiology of PAH: Pulmonary Arterial Pressure (PAP)
- PAP is generated by the right ventricle (RV) ejecting blood into the pulmonary circulation, which acts as a resistance to the output from the RV.
- Pulmonary vasculature is low resistance system
- Mean PAP can be described by:
»> PAP = (CO x PVR) +PVP «<
-CO = cardiac output, PVR = pulmonary vascular resistance, PVP = pulmonary venous pressure - Mean PAP ~15 mmHg, mean PVP ~8 mmHG. The pressure gradient driving flow through the pulmonary circulation is ~7 mmHg (PAP minus PVP)
-Compared to the systemic circulation where the arterial-venous pressure gradient is about 90 mmHg - Blood flow is the same to the systemic and pulmonary system but the resistance is much lower in the pulmonary system.
PAH: Pathogenesis (Pulmonary vascular changes)
- Vasoconstriction
- Imbalance between vasodilators and vasoconstrictors - Smooth muscle cell and endothelia cell proliferation
- Imbalance between growth inhibitors and mitogenic factors - Thrombosis
- Imbalance between antithrombotic and prothrombotic determinants
Mediators of Pulmonary Vascular Responses in PAH
- Vasoconstriction
- Increased thromboxane (TxA2)
- Decreased prostacyclin (PGI2)
- Decreased nitric oxide (NO)
- Increased endothelin (ET-1)
- Increased serotonin (5-HT)
- Decreased vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)
Mediators of Pulmonary Vascular Responses in PAH
- Cell Proliferation
- Increased thromboxane (TxA2)
- Decreased prostacyclin (PGI2)
- Decreased nitric oxide (NO)
- Increased endothelin (ET-1)
- Increased serotonin (5-HT)
- Decreased vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)
Mediators of Pulmonary Vascular Responses in PAH
- Thrombosis
- Increased thromboxane (TxA2)
- Decreased prostacyclin (PGI2)
- Decreased nitric oxide (NO)
- Increased serotonin (5-HT)
- Decreased vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)
Definite Drug-Induced (PAH): drugs and toxins known to induce PAH
- Aminorex
- Fenfluramine
- Dexfenfluramine
- Toxic rapeseed oil
- Benfluorex
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborns of mothers with intake of SSRIs)
Likely Drug-Induced (PAH): drugs and toxins known to induce PAH
- Amphetamines
- Dasatinib
- L-tryptophan
- Methamphetamines
Possible Drug-Induced (PAH): drugs and toxins known to induce PAH
- Cocaine
- Phenylpropanolamine
- St. John’s Wort
- Amphetamine-like drugs
- Interferon alpha and beta
- Some chemotherapeutic agents such as alkylating agents (mytomycine C, cyclophosphamide) (Alkylating agents are possible causes of pulmonary vent-occulsive disease)
PAH: Diagnostic Evaluation steps
- History, including family history, and physical examination
- Electrocardiography, Chest radiography, Pulmonary-function testing
- Echocardiography
- Ventilation/perfusion scan, Chest CT
- CBC, HIV-1 antibody, LFTs, thyrotropin, antinuclear antibody
- Exclude other secondary causes as indicated (polysomnography)
- Right heart catheterization with vasodilator testing (Needed to confirm PAH Dx)
WHO Functional Classification of Patients with PAH (Class I)
No limitation of usual physical activity; ordinary physical activity dose not cause increased dyspnea, fatigue, chest pain, or presyncope
WHO Functional Classification of Patients with PAH (Class II)
- Mild limitation of physical activity.
- There is no discomfort at rest, but normal physical activity causes increased dyspnea, fatigue, chest pain, or presyncope.
WHO Functional Classification of Patients with PAH (Class III)
- Marked limitation of physical activity.
- There is no discomfort at rest, but less than ordinary activity causes increased dyspnea, fatigue, chest pain, or presyncope
WHO Functional Classification of Patients with PAH (Class IV)
- Unable to perform any physical activity.
- May have signs of RV failure.
- Dyspnea and/or fatigue may be present at rest and symptoms are increased by almost any physical activity
PAH: Markers of disease severity
- The Borg dyspnea index (BDI)
- employs a scale from 0 = no impairment to 10 = severe impairment - The 6 minute walk test (6-MWT)
- A measurement of sub maximal level of exercise which is more reflective of everyday life than a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) - Cardiopulmonary hemodynamic variables
- mPAP, PVR, cardiac output via right heart catheterization
PAH Treatment: General Measures
- Oxygen
- Hypoxemia is a potent vasoconstrictor and contributes to development and progression of PAH
- In patients with PAH, supplement O2 should be used as necessary to maintain O2 saturation >90% at all times - Diet
- Sodium restriction to <2,500 mg/day should be encouraged
- Fluid restriction should be encouraged when necessary - Immunizations
- Annual influenza
- Pneumococcal - Diuretics
- Indicated in patients with evidence of right ventricular failure (peripheral edema, hepatomegaly, ascites, elevated JVD)
- Maintaining normal volume status beneficial to the long-term management of the patient with PAH
- Monitor: vitals, renal function, serum electrolytes - Digoxin
- May be beneficial in patients with refractory ventricular failure and/or atrial dysrrhythmias
PAH Treatment: Oral Anticoagulants
-Microscopic thrombosis has been documented with IPAH and right-sided HF increases risk of PE
-Patients with IPAH should receive anticoagulation with warfarin
»Improved survival has been seen with oral anticoagulation in patients with IPAH
-In patients with PAH occurring in association with other underlying processes, such as scleroderma or congenital heart disease, anticoagulation should be considered
-Oral anticoagulation should be used in any PAH patient with an indwelling catheter
-Target INR range is 1.5-2.5
PAH Treatment: Acute Vasodilator Testing
- Vasodilator testing is used to determine response to vasodilators
- Patients responding to testing have an improved survival with long-term calcium channel blockers (CCB) - Acute vasodilator testing must be done during a right heart catheterization
- Positive response defined as a drop in mean PAP greater than or equal to 10 mmHg to less than or equal to 40 mmHg (10 to 40 mmHg) with an unchanged or increased cardiac output
- Patients with IPAH should undergo acute vasoreactivity testing
- Patients with PAH associated with underlying processes should undergo testing as well - Use a short-acting agent such as IV epoprostenol, IV adenosine, or inhaled nitric oxide