The relationship of right- and left-sided filling pressures in patients with heart failure and a preserved ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND

Although right-sided filling pressures often mirror left-sided filling pressures in systolic heart failure, it is not known whether a similar relationship exists in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Eleven subjects with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction underwent right heart catheterization at rest and under loading conditions manipulated by lower body negative pressure and saline infusion. Right atrial pressure (RAP) was classified as elevated when >or=10 mm Hg and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) when >or=22 mm Hg. If both the RAP and the PCWP were elevated or both not elevated, they were classified as concordant; otherwise, they were classified as discordant. Correlation of RAP and PCWP was determined by a repeated measures model. Among 66 paired measurements of RAP and PCWP, 44 (67%) had a low RAP and PCWP and 8 (12%) a high RAP and PCWP, yielding a concordance rate of 79%. In a sensitivity analysis performed by varying the definition of elevated RAP (from 8 to 12 mm Hg) and PCWP (from 15 to 25 mm Hg), the mean+/-SD concordance of RAP and PCWP was 76+/-10%. The correlation coefficient of RAP and PCWP for the overall cohort was r=0.86 (P<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Right-sided filling pressures often reflect left-sided filling pressures in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, supporting the role of estimation of jugular venous pressure to assess volume status in this condition.