Hemodynamic Profile of Severity at Pulmonary Vasoreactivity Test in Schistosomiasis Patients

Background: The pulmonary vasoreactivity rate of Schistosomal Pulmonary Artery Hypertension (SPAH) is not known. Hemodynamic data obtained by cardiac catheterization are associated with the most commonly used clinical criteria of severity. Objective: To estimate the percentage of positive vasoreactivity to nitric oxide in schistosomal pulmonary arterial hypertension and verify the association of hemodynamic parameters with WHO functional classification and the six-minute walk test in these patients. Methods: A total of 84 patients with schistosomal pulmonary hypertension were selected from a database, who had been submitted to the right and left cardiac catheterization and pulmonary vasoreactivity test with nitric oxide. Data on WHO functional classification and six-minute walk test were collected for comparison with invasive data. Results: Of the 84 patients with SPAH, 3 (3.5%) had positive criteria for pulmonary vasoreactivity. The increase in pulmonary vascular resistance was significantly associated with lower exercise capacity measured by the six-minute walk test (p = 0.045) and greater symptom severity by higher functional classifications (WHO class III/IV) (p = 0.013). The decrease in oxygen saturation in the pulmonary artery was significantly associated with higher functional classifications (p = 0.041). Conclusion: The pulmonary response rate to the vasodilation test of schistosomiasis patients is below the values found for idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary vascular resistance and oxygen saturation in the pulmonary artery are hemodynamic data that can be used as markers of severity in schistosomal pulmonary hypertension. (Arq Bras Cardiol 2012;99(3):789-796)