Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 5, 2025
Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Experimental Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Published on: June 27, 2025
Quantitative CT Evaluation of Small Pulmonary Vessels Has Functional and Prognostic Value in Pulmonary Hypertension
Yousef Shahin1, Samer Alabed1, Dheyaa Alkhanfar1
1From the Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease (Y.S., S.A., D.A., A.M.K.R., J.M.W., D.G.K., A.J.S.) and INSIGNEO, Institute for in silico Medicine (D.G.K., A.J.S.), University of Sheffield, Glossop Rd, Sheffield S10 2JF, England; Department of Clinical Radiology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield, England (Y.S., S.A., A.J.S.); VIDA Diagnostics, Coralville, Iowa (J.T.); and Sheffield Pulmonary Vascular Disease Unit, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, England (R.C., D.G.K.).
Abstract:
Background The in vivo relationship between peel pulmonary vessels, small pulmonary vessels, and pulmonary hypertension (PH) is not fully understood. Purpose To quantitatively assess peel pulmonary vessel volumes (PPVVs) and small pulmonary vessel volumes (SPVVs) as estimated from CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in different subtypes of PH compared with controls, their relationship to pulmonary function and right heart catheter metrics, and their prognostic value. Materials and Methods In this retrospective single-center study performed from January 2008 to February 2018, quantitative CTPA analysis of total SPVV (TSPVV) (0.4- to 2-mm vessel diameter) and PPVV (within 15, 30, and 45 mm from the lung surface) was performed. Results A total of 1823 patients (mean age, 69 years ± 13 [SD]; 1192 women [65%]) were retrospectively analyzed; 1593 patients with PH (mean pulmonary arterial pressure [mPAP], 43 mmHg ± 13 [SD]) were compared with 230 patient controls (mPAP, 19 mm Hg ± 3). The mean vessel volumes in pulmonary peels at 15-, 30-, and 45-mm depths were higher in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and PH secondary to lung disease compared with chronic thromboembolic PH (45-mm peel, mean difference: 6.4 mL [95% CI: 1, 11] [P < .001] vs 6.8 mL [95% CI: 1, 12] [P = .01]). Mean small vessel volumes at a diameter of less than 2 mm were lower in PAH and PH associated with left heart disease compared with controls (1.6-mm vessels, mean difference: -4.3 mL [95% CI: -8, -0.1] [P = .03] vs -6.8 mL [95% CI: -11, -2] [P < .001]). In patients with PH, the most significant positive correlation was noted with forced vital capacity percentage predicted (r = 0.30-0.40 [all P < .001] for TSPVVs and r = 0.21-0.25 [all P < .001] for PPVVs). Conclusion The volume of pulmonary small vessels is reduced in pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with left heart disease, with similar volume of peel vessels compared with controls. For chronic thromboembolic PH, the volume of peel vessels is reduced. In PH, small pulmonary vessel volume is associated with pulmonary function tests. Clinical trial registration no. NCT02565030 Published under a CC BY 4.0 license Online supplemental material is available for this article.
