Positive Vasoreactivity Testing in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Therapeutic Consequences, Treatment Patterns, and Outcomes in the Modern Management Era

BACKGROUND: Among patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), acute vasoreactivity testing during right heart catheterization may identify acute vasoresponders, for whom treatment with high-dose calcium channel blockers (CCBs) is recommended. However, long-term outcomes in the current era remain largely unknown. We sought to evaluate the implications of acute vasoreactivity response for long-term response to CCBs and other outcomes. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with PAH between January 1999 and December 2018 at 15 pulmonary hypertension centers were included and analyzed retrospectively. In accordance with current guidelines, acute vasoreactivity response was defined by a decrease of mean pulmonary artery pressure by

• Gerhardt, F.
• Fiessler, E.
• Olsson, K. M.
• Kayser, M. Z.
• Kovacs, G.
• Gall, H.
• Ghofrani, H. A.
• Badr Eslam, R.
• Lang, I. M.
• Benjamin, N.
• Grünig, E.
• Halank, M.
• Lange, T. J.
• Ulrich, S.
• Leuchte, H.
• Held, M.
• Klose, H.
• Ewert, R.
• Wilkens, H.
• Pizarro, C.
• Skowasch, D.
• Wissmüller, M.
• Hellmich, M.
• Olschewski, H.
• Hoeper, M. M.
• Rosenkranz, S.