Abstract
Background
: To investigate the association between altered sex hormone expression and long-term right ventricular (RV) adaptation and progression of right heart failure in a Dutch cohort of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)-patients across a wide range of ages.
Methods
: In this study we included 279 PAH-patients, of which 169 females and 110 males. From 59 patients and 21 controls we collected plasma samples for sex hormone analysis. Right heart catheterization (RHC) and/or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging was performed at baseline. For longitudinal data analysis we selected patients that underwent a RHC and/or CMR maximally 1.5 years prior to an event (death or transplantation, N=49).
Results
: Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) levels were reduced in male and female PAH-patients compared to controls, whereas androstenedione and testosterone were only reduced in female patients. Interestingly, low DHEA-S and high testosterone levels were correlated to worse RV function in male patients only. Subsequently, we analyzed prognosis and RV adaptation in females stratified by age. Females≤45years had best prognosis in comparison to females≥55years and males. No differences in RV function at baseline were observed, despite higher pressure-overload in females≤45years. Longitudinal data demonstrated a clear distinction in RV adaptation. Although females≤45years had an event at a later time point, RV function was more impaired at end-stage disease.
Conclusions
: Sex hormones are differently associated with RV function in male and female PAH-patients. DHEA-S appeared to be lower in male and female PAH-patients. Females≤45years could persevere pressure-overload for a longer time, but had a more severe RV phenotype at end-stage disease.
: To investigate the association between altered sex hormone expression and long-term right ventricular (RV) adaptation and progression of right heart failure in a Dutch cohort of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)-patients across a wide range of ages.
Methods
: In this study we included 279 PAH-patients, of which 169 females and 110 males. From 59 patients and 21 controls we collected plasma samples for sex hormone analysis. Right heart catheterization (RHC) and/or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging was performed at baseline. For longitudinal data analysis we selected patients that underwent a RHC and/or CMR maximally 1.5 years prior to an event (death or transplantation, N=49).
Results
: Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) levels were reduced in male and female PAH-patients compared to controls, whereas androstenedione and testosterone were only reduced in female patients. Interestingly, low DHEA-S and high testosterone levels were correlated to worse RV function in male patients only. Subsequently, we analyzed prognosis and RV adaptation in females stratified by age. Females≤45years had best prognosis in comparison to females≥55years and males. No differences in RV function at baseline were observed, despite higher pressure-overload in females≤45years. Longitudinal data demonstrated a clear distinction in RV adaptation. Although females≤45years had an event at a later time point, RV function was more impaired at end-stage disease.
Conclusions
: Sex hormones are differently associated with RV function in male and female PAH-patients. DHEA-S appeared to be lower in male and female PAH-patients. Females≤45years could persevere pressure-overload for a longer time, but had a more severe RV phenotype at end-stage disease.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 445-457 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 2022 |