Exercise pulmonary haemodynamics predict outcome in patients with systemic sclerosis

The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of exercise haemodynamics measured during right heart catheterisation (RHC) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) referred for evaluation of pulmonary hypertension.SSc patients undergoing RHC at rest and during maximal supine incremental cycle exercise were grouped into resting precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH ) (mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) ≥25 mmHg, pulmonary artery wedge pressure 3 mmHg·L ·min at maximal exercise), and without pulmonary hypertension (PH ). Patients' characteristics, haemodynamics and follow up data were compared between groups.72 SSc patients were followed for median (interquartile range) 33 (15-55) months. Mean (95% CI) survival without transplantation estimated by Kaplan-Meyer analysis was 4.4 (0.8-2.9) years in PH (n=17), 5.2 (4.4-6.1) years in PH (n=28) and 9.5(8.4-10.6) years in PH (n=27; p