Skip to main content
Log in

Clinical characteristics in lymphangioleiomyomatosis-related pulmonary hypertension: an observation on 50 patients

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare diffuse cystic lung disease. Knowledge on LAM-related pulmonary hypertension (PH) is limited. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of LAM with elevated pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and evaluate the potential efficacy of sirolimus. The study involved 50 LAM patients who underwent echocardiography. According to the tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV), these patients were divided into the TRV ⩽ 2.8 m/s group and TRV > 2.8 m/s group. Both groups comprised 25 females with an average age of 38.6 ± 8.1 and 41.5 ± 8.9 years. In the TRV > 2.8 m/s group, the estimated systolic PAP (SPAP) was significantly elevated (52.08 ± 12.45 mmHg vs. 30.24 ± 5.25 mmHg, P < 0.01). Linear analysis showed that SPAP was correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide, alveolar arterial oxygen gradient (PA-aO2), and 6 min walking distance (r =–0.392, –0.351, 0.450, and –0.591, respectively; P < 0.05), in which PA-aO2 was a risk factor for SPAP elevation (β = 0.064, OR = 1.066, P < 0.05). Moreover, in 10 patients who received sirolimus therapy, SPAP decreased from 57.0 12.6 mmHg to 35.2 ± 11.1 mmHg. The study showed that LAM patients with PH exhibit poor pulmonary function and hypoxemia and may benefit from sirolimus treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Harknett EC, Chang WY, Byrnes S, Johnson J, Lazor R, Cohen MM, Gray B, Geiling S, Telford H, Tattersfield AE, Hubbard RB, Johnson SR. Use of variability in national and regional data to estimate the prevalence of lymphangioleiomyomatosis. QJM 2011; 104(11): 971–979

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Johnson SR, Taveira-DaSilva AM, Moss J. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Clin Chest Med 2016; 37(3): 389–403

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Taveira-DaSilva AM, Hathaway OM, Sachdev V, Shizukuda Y, Birdsall CW, Moss J. Pulmonary artery pressure in lymphangioleiomyomatosis: an echocardiographic study. Chest 2007; 132(5): 1573–1578

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. McCormack FX. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a clinical update. Chest 2008; 133(2): 507–516

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Taveira-DaSilva AM, Moss J. Clinical features, epidemiology, and therapy of lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Clin Epidemiol 2015; 7: 249–257

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Harari S, Torre O, Moss J. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: what do we know and what are we looking for? Eur Respir Rev 2011; 20(119): 34–44

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Cottin V. Pulmonary hypertension in chronic respiratory diseases. Presse Med 2014; 43(9): 945–956

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Harari S, Simonneau G, De Juli E, Brenot F, Cerrina J, Colombo P, Gronda E, Micallef E, Parent F, Dartevelle P. Prognostic value of pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic interstitial lung disease referred for lung or heart-lung transplantation. J Heart Lung Transplant 1997; 16(4): 460–463

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Freitas CSG, Baldi BG, Jardim C, Araujo MS, Sobral JB, Heiden GI, Kairalla RA, Souza R, Carvalho CRR. Pulmonary hypertension in lymphangioleiomyomatosis: prevalence, severity and the role of carbon monoxide diffusion capacity as a screening method. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2017; 12(1): 74

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Barnett CF, Alvarez P, Park MH. Pulmonary arterial hypertension: diagnosis and treatment. Cardiol Clin 2016; 34(3): 375–389

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Galiè N, Humbert M, Vachiery JL, Gibbs S, Lang I, Torbicki A, Simonneau G, Peacock A, Vonk Noordegraaf A, Beghetti M, Ghofrani A, Gomez Sanchez MA, Hansmann G, Klepetko W, Lancellotti P, Matucci M, McDonagh T, Pierard LA, Trindade PT, Zompatori M, Hoeper M. 2015 ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension: The Joint Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS): Endorsed by: Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC), International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT). Eur Respir J 2015; 46 (4): 903–975

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Johnson SR, Cordier JF, Lazor R, Cottin V, Costabel U, Harari S, Reynaud-Gaubert M, Boehler A, Brauner M, Popper H, Bonetti F, Kingswood C; Review Panel of the ERS LAM Task Force. European Respiratory Society guidelines for the diagnosis and management of lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Eur Respir J 2010; 35 (1): 14–26

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Miller MR, Hankinson J, Brusasco V, Burgos F, Casaburi R, Coates A, Crapo R, Enright P, van der Grinten CP, Gustafsson P, Jensen R, Johnson DC, MacIntyre N, McKay R, Navajas D, Pedersen OF, Pellegrino R, Viegi G, Wanger J; ATS/ERS Task Force. Standardisation of spirometry. Eur Respir J 2005; 26(2): 319–338

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Nadrous HF, Pellikka PA, Krowka MJ, Swanson KL, Chaowalit N, Decker PA, Ryu JH. Pulmonary hypertension in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Chest 2005; 128(4): 2393–2399

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. McCormack FX, Gupta N, Finlay GR, Young LR, Taveira-DaSilva AM, Glasgow CG, Steagall WK, Johnson SR, Sahn SA, Ryu JH, Strange C, Seyama K, Sullivan EJ, Kotloff RM, Downey GP, Chapman JT, Han MK, D’Armiento JM, Inoue Y, Henske EP, Bissler JJ, Colby TV, Kinder BW, Wikenheiser-Brokamp KA, Brown KK, Cordier JF, Meyer C, Cottin V, Brozek JL, Smith K, Wilson KC, Moss J; ATS/JRS Committee on Lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Official American Thoracic Society/Japanese Respiratory Society Clinical Practice Guidelines: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Diagnosis and Management. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2016; 194 (6): 748–761

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Cottin V, Harari S, Humbert M, Mal H, Dorfmüller P, Jaïs X, Reynaud-Gaubert M, Prevot G, Lazor R, Taillé C, Lacronique J, Zeghmar S, Simonneau G, Cordier JF; Groupe d'Etudes et de Recherche sur les Maladies "Orphelines" Pulmonaires (GERM" O"P). Pulmonary hypertension in lymphangioleiomyomatosis: characteristics in 20 patients. Eur Respir J 2012; 40(3): 630–640

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Nathan SD, Hassoun PM. Pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease and/or hypoxia. Clin Chest Med 2013; 34(4): 695–705

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Naeije R, Dedobbeleer C. Pulmonary hypertension and the right ventricle in hypoxia. Exp Physiol 2013; 98(8): 1247–1256

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Nakahara Y, Taniguchi H, Kimura T, Kondoh Y, Arizono S, Nishimura K, Sakamoto K, Ito S, Ando M, Hasegawa Y. Exercise hypoxaemia as a predictor of pulmonary hypertension in COPD patients without severe resting hypoxaemia. Respirology 2017; 22 (1): 120–125

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Wang T, Mao Y, Sun Y, Hou W, Feng Y, Qu H. Pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: clinical characteristics and risk factors. Chin J Intern Med (Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi) 2015; 54(12): 1037–1040 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Meyer FJ, Ewert R, Hoeper MM, Olschewski H, Behr J, Winkler J, Wilkens H, Breuer C, Kübler W, Borst MM; German PPH Study Group. Peripheral airway obstruction in primary pulmonary hypertension. Thorax 2002; 57(6): 473–476

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Sun XG, Hansen JE, Oudiz RJ, Wasserman K. Pulmonary function in primary pulmonary hypertension. J Am Coll Cardiol 2003; 41(6): 1028–1035

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Lai YC, Potoka KC, Champion HC, Mora AL, Gladwin MT. Pulmonary arterial hypertension: the clinical syndrome. Circ Res 2014; 115(1): 115–130

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Seeger W, Adir Y, Barberà JA, Champion H, Coghlan JG, Cottin V, De Marco T, Galiè N, Ghio S, Gibbs S, Martinez FJ, Semigran MJ, Simonneau G, Wells AU, Vachiéry JL. Pulmonary hypertension in chronic lung diseases. J Am Coll Cardiol 2013; 62(25Suppl): D109–D116

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Ruocco G, Cekorja B, Rottoli P, Refini RM, Pellegrini M, Di Tommaso C, Del Castillo G, Franci B, Nuti R, Palazzuoli A. Role of BNP and echo measurement for pulmonary hypertension recognition in patients with interstitial lung disease: an algorithm application model. Respir Med 2015; 109(3): 406–415

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Fisher MR, Criner GJ, Fishman AP, Hassoun PM, Minai OA, Scharf SM, Fessler HE; NETT Research Group. Estimating pulmonary artery pressures by echocardiography in patients with emphysema. Eur Respir J 2007; 30(5): 914–921

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Freitas CS, Baldi BG, Araújo MS, Heiden GI, Kairalla RA, Carvalho CR. Use of sirolimus in the treatment of lymphangioleiomyomatosis: favorable responses in patients with different extrapulmonary manifestations. J Bras Pneumol 2015; 41(3): 275–280

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. McCormack FX, Inoue Y, Moss J, Singer LG, Strange C, Nakata K, Barker AF, Chapman JT, Brantly ML, Stocks JM, Brown KK, Lynch JP, Goldberg HJ, Young LR, Kinder BW, Downey GP, Sullivan EJ, Colby TV, McKay RT, Cohen MM, Korbee L, Taveira-DaSilva AM, Lee HS, Krischer JP, Trapnell BC; National Institutes of Health Rare Lung Diseases Consortium; MILES Trial Group. Efficacy and safety of sirolimus in lymphangioleiomyomatosis. N Engl J Med 2011; 364(17): 1595–1606

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Goncharov DA, Kudryashova TV, Ziai H, Ihida-Stansbury K, DeLisser H, Krymskaya VP, Tuder RM, Kawut SM, Goncharova EA. Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) coordinates pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell metabolism, proliferation, and survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Circulation 2014; 129(8): 864–874

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Wang W, Liu J, Ma A, Miao R, Jin Y, Zhang H, Xu K, Wang C, Wang J. mTORC1 is involved in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension through the activation of Notch3. J Cell Physiol 2014; 229(12): 2117–2125

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Wang AP, Li XH, Yang YM, Li WQ, Zhang W, Hu CP, Zhang Z, Li YJ. A critical role of the mTOR/eIF2α pathway in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. PLoS One 2015; 10(6): e0130806

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Krymskaya VP, Snow J, Cesarone G, Khavin I, Goncharov DA, Lim PN, Veasey SC, Ihida-Stansbury K, Jones PL, Goncharova EA. mTOR is required for pulmonary arterial vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation under chronic hypoxia. FASEB J 2011; 25(6): 1922–1933

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Houssaini A, Abid S, Mouraret N, Wan F, Rideau D, Saker M, Marcos E, Tissot CM, Dubois-Randé JL, Amsellem V, Adnot S. Rapamycin reverses pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation in pulmonary hypertension. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2013; 48(5): 568–577

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Project (No. Z151100003915126) and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2016YFC-0901502).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kaifeng Xu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wu, X., Xu, W., Wang, J. et al. Clinical characteristics in lymphangioleiomyomatosis-related pulmonary hypertension: an observation on 50 patients. Front. Med. 13, 259–266 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-018-0634-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-018-0634-z

Keywords

Navigation