Pulmonary artery distensibility assessed by magnetic resonance and its relation to acute vasodilator test response in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients

by Poyares Jardim, Carlos Viana

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is characterized by an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, eventually leading to hemodynamic failure. We assessed whether pulmonary artery distensibility (evaluated by magnetic resonance) correlated with acute vasodilator test response. A statistically significant difference was found in terms of pulmonary artery distensibility in responders and non-responders. A ROC curve showed that 10% distensibility could discriminate responders from non-responders with 100%sensitivity and 56% specificity