Correlation Between Estimated Right Atrial Pressure and BNP in Pulmonary HTN (CRAB-PH) (CRAB-PH)

Correlation Between Estimated Right Atrial Pressure and BNP in Pulmonary Hypertension (CRAB-PH)

Over the past decade, advancements in therapies available for pulmonary hypertension (PH) have increased life expectancy for those who qualify and receive treatment. Yet, prognostication of these patients has remained a clinical dilemma. The application of the REVEAL registry predictive algorithm provides information about estimated 1-year survival but since invasive measurements from a right heart catheterization cannot easily be repeated, it is not feasible to continually use this longitudinally to assess the disease burden. Simple tests such as BNP has been shown to be very clinically relevant in short -term and long term prognostication and seems to correspond well to the right ventricular failure. Elevated right atrial pressures, and its estimation via IVC measurements predict poor survivorship in a recent retrospective analysis. As clinical measurement of jugular venous pressure is becoming less reliable, we aim to bring point- of-care ultrasound to the outpatient setting. Point of care ultrasound is widely used in the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit settings. By measuring estimated right atrial pressure (eRAP) via Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) measurements at outpatient clinic visits we aim to find a correlation with the existing and widely used B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP), that is collected at each visit as a part of regular care. These measurements can be followed longitudinally and may aid in prognostication. Data will be collected over the period of 1 year at clinic visits. A composite endpoint (including death, hospitalizations for PH, addition of new PH specific therapy after a stabilization period of 3 months, lung transplant or atrial septostomy) will separately be collected. At the end of the data collection period, clinical data only will be collected for a additional 2 years via phone correspondence, chart review or at regular PH clinic visits.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pulmonary Hypertension

Detailed Description

Pulmonary hypertension patients who choose to participate:

Written informed consent will be obtained for the study. Patients must sign the informed consent before participating in any study related procedures.

• All inclusion and exclusion criteria will be reviewed.
• Demographic history will be recorded.
• Vital signs will be performed.
• A medication history will be taken.
• A smoking history will be recorded.
• BNP levels will be measured as a part of usual care at PH visits.
• Ultrasonographic measurements will be performed at the clinic visit.
• Ultrasonographic measurements:

IVC Measurements

• Performed in the subcostal view in supine position.
• Images will be captured in a video format.
• Maximal IVC diameter 1 to 2 cm from the junction of the right atrium and the IVC at end-expiration just proximal to the junction of the hepatic veins. The IVC collapsibility index to give an estimate of RAP.
• Inspiratory collapse of > 50% or < 50% will be ascertained based on the measurements.

Jugular Vein Measurements

• Patient will be placed in 45° position
• Longitudinal images will be obtained of the right jugular vein.
• Location of tapering of the jugular vein is measured, and distance from the sternal angle is recorded as ultrasound-measured jugular venous pressure (JVP).

Clinical Worsening Outcomes

• At each visit during year 1, and then every 6 months for years 2-3, clinical worsening events will be captured. These events are defined as:

• Death
• PH-related hospitalization
• Lung transplant
• Atrial septostomy
• Functional Class worsening and step up in therapy

Study Timing

• Enrollment of patients for a period of 1 year. Subsequently, no more patients will be enrolled. Patients who are enrolled will be followed clinically without further study-related testing at their regular clinic visits after completion of year 1.
• All patients enrolled will have ultrasonographic measurements of IVC and jugular veins at each clinic visit for 1 year.
• Data collection regarding meeting clinical worsening end points and BNP levels will be collected at the regular clinic visits at year 2 and 3 of the study.
• If patients are lost to follow up at clinics (including year-1), telephone correspondence, social security database review or chart review at 6-month intervals will be performed to determine vital status and see if they have met any clinical worsening endpoints.
• Study will close after the final patient has completed 3-years of follow up.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 90

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Louisiana
    • New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, 70112
      • University Medical Center - New Orleans

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients who present to the University Medical Center with a clinical diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age > 18
• Clinical diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension
• BNP levels measured on day of clinic visit

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant females
• Inability to lay flat for the ultra-sonographic measurements

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of patients who show a relationship between inferior vena cava (IVC) measurements, eRAP and BNP using ultrasound.	To accomplish this objective, ultrasonographic measurements of the IVC and jugular veins will be performed at each visit, which can be easily measured longitudinally to establish a relationship with BNP.	1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time to Clinical worsening	Any outcome measure that indicates the patient is clinically worse than the previous visit will be considered in the assessment of time to clinical worsening. The 2 year follow-up period will assess: All-cause death; Need for atrial septostomy; Need for lung transplant; Hospitalization for PH; Worsening functional class (or no improvement from functional class 4) and need for additional PH therapies after a period of initial clinical stabilization of 3 months. These outcomes will all be used in the determination of disease progression.	2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Matthew R Lammi, MD, MSCR, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Samant S, Tran HV, Uddo RB, deBoisblanc BP, Saketkoo LA, Saito S, Helmcke FR, Lammi MR. Use of Handheld Ultrasound to Estimate Right Atrial Pressure in a Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2022 Feb;19(2):179-185. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202101-092OC.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 12, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 16, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): August 19, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 10, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 9, 2021
• Last Verified: September 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Hypertension; Hypertension, Pulmonary
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB 9403

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No
• IPD Plan Description: Individual Participant Data (IPD) will not be made available.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No