Arterial vascular volume changes with haemodynamics in schistosomiasis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a prevalent cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), currently classified as group 1 pulmonary hypertension (PH) [1]. In comparison to other aetiologies of PAH, such as idiopathic PAH, schistosomiasis-associated PAH (Sch-PAH) has not been extensively studied. Potential mechanisms of PAH development in schistosomiasis include systemic and localised lung inflammation, involvement of other organs, such as the liver and spleen, and direct blockage of precapillary vessels from parasite egg embolisation. Currently, the diagnosis of Sch-PAH relies on haemodynamic assessment using right heart catheterisation. In several aetiologies of PH, loss of visualised distal vascular volume has been quantified from pulmonary angiography [2, 3] and computed tomography (CT) of the lungs [4][5][6]. Additionally, loss of distal vascular volume has been shown to be associated with loss of vascular cross-sectional area histologically [7]. In this pilot study, we hypothesised that relative loss of arterial pulmonary vascular volume differentially correlates with haemodynamics in Sch-PAH patients, compared to a group of control subjects.

Parasitic lung diseases

“…One of the manifestations of schistosomiasis is schistosomiasis-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (SchPAH) [34]. SchPAH is considered a global disease due to the high prevalence of schistosomiasis [35][36][37], with a prevalence of 5% among those chronically infected with schistosomes [38] and 5-30% in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis secondary to Schistosoma mansoni [39][40][41]. Another study showed that SchPAH results in 30.8% of all cases of pulmonary hypertension in endemic areas [42].…”

World Pulmonary Hypertension Day: reflections and planning

“…Dia mundial da hipertensão pulmonar: reflexões e planejamentos a pesquisa brasileira caracterizou essa forma de HAP do ponto de vista clínico-funcional, hemodinâmico, radiológico e epidemiológico. (3)(4)(5)(6)(7) Foram surgindo no país grupos com expertises distintas, se dedicando a áreas mais específicas do conhecimento das doenças da circulação pulmonar e criando um ambiente muito propício à colaboração.…”