Pulmonary hypertension secondary to left heart disease (WHO Group 2) is a known risk factor in patients with heart failure. The favourable effect of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) on pulmonary hypertension has been demonstrated before, although this effect has not been well-studied in advanced pulmonary arterial bed disease with a significant elevation in pulmonary vascular resistance.

We reviewed the records of 258 LVAD patients in our institution. Patients with elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP>25mmHg) and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR ≥3 Wood units) were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups based on their baseline PVR (PVR=3–5 Wood units (WU) vs. PVR>5WU). The groups were studied for the changes in their pulmonary haemodynamics after the placement of LVAD.

Fifty-one (51) patients were included in the study. All patients showed a significant improvement in their pulmonary haemodynamic parameters post LVAD placement. In the group with the higher PVR, mPAP dropped from a baseline of 43±7mmHg to 22±6mmHg post LVAD placement (p<0.001), while PVR dropped from 6.3±1.2 Wood units to 2.2±1.1 Wood units (p<0.001). In a subgroup of patients who underwent cardiac transplantation post LVAD (n=14), all patients maintained a normalised PVR (<3WU) one year post cardiac transplantation.

Left ventricular assist devices can reverse pulmonary hypertension WHO Group 2 with significantly elevated PVR; this effect is not dependent on the baseline PVR, and is maintained up to one year post cardiac transplantation.