Primary pulmonary arterial hypertension with preserved right ventricular function leads to lower extremity venous insufficiency

Abstract

Objectives Pulmonary hypertension with heart failure is related to venous insufficiency. However, there is no clear data whether pulmonary arterial hypertension with preserved right ventricular function cause venous insufficiency. In this study, we aim to investigate the relation between pulmonary arterial pressure with venous insufficiency in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients with preserved right ventricular function. Methods Between January 2012 and October 2014, 38 patients with a diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension and 47 control group patients were included. Venous disability score and venous segmental disease score of both groups were calculated in order to measure venous insufficiency. The relationship between venous disability score and venous segmental disease scores and mean pulmonary arterial pressure and World Heart Organization functional capacity was examined. Results Total venous segmental disease score (5 ± 3.9 vs. 2 ± 1.8 p < 0.001), right venous segmental disease score (2.6 ± 2.2 vs. 1 ± 0.9 p < 0.001), left venous segmental disease score (2.4 ± 2.2 vs. 1 ± 0.9 p < 0.001), and venous disability scores (2.2 ±1 vs. 1.6 ± 0.7 p < 0.001) of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension were higher than the control group. While the total venous segmental disease score was highly related to mean pulmonary arterial pressure (r = 0.829, p < 0.001), the venous disability score was only weakly related (r = 0.343, p = 0.037). Total venous segmental disease score (r = 0.606, p < 0.001) and venous disability scores (r = 0.601, p < 0.001) were moderately related with World Health Organization functional capacity intensity. Conclusions The degree of venous insufficiency increase in accordance with the mean pulmonary arterial pressure even in patients with preserved right ventricular function.