BACKGROUND Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) alters right ventricular size and function, curtailing life expectancy. Patients may experience angina and myocardial ischemia. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood.METHODS This study had a cross-sectional, case-control design. Patients with IPAH undergoing right heart catheterization were prospectively enrolled and underwent functional testing during coronary angiography using a dual pressure/temperature-sensitive guidewire. Cardiovascular MRI measured left and right ventricular mass and function. Right ventricular tissue from individuals with end-stage PAH and control individuals were analyzed for pathophysiology.RESULTS Eleven IPAH and 15 control participants completed the protocol: 73% of IPAH patients had an elevated index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR > 25) and 55% had reduced coronary flow reserve (CFR < 2.0). Mean IMR was significantly higher in IPAH participants (39.2 ± 27.0 vs. 15.3 ± 5.0, P = 0.002), whereas mean CFR was lower (2.8 ± 2.1 vs. 4.0 ± 1.4; P = 0.077). Paired right coronary artery/ventricular measurements (n = 6) revealed IMR positively correlated with right ventricular mass (r = 0.91, P = 0.12) and negatively with CFR (r = –0.82, P = 0.046). Compared with controls (n = 5), PAH participants (n = 4) had reduced right ventricular capillary density, increased cardiomyocyte area, and increased mural area in pre-capillary arterioles.CONCLUSION Invasive coronary function testing was feasible and safe in IPAH. Coronary microvascular dysfunction was prevalent in IPAH and correlated with increased right ventricular mass. Histopathology revealed vascular rarefaction and remodeling of pre-capillary arterioles.FUNDING The British Heart Foundation (BHF) (PG/18/6134217) and the Golden Jubilee Research Foundation.
Erin Boland, Michael G. Freeman, David S. Corcoran, Thomas J. Ford, Barry Hennigan, Damien Collison, Aida Llucià-Valldeperas, Frances S. de Man, Kanarath P. Balachandran, Martin Johnson, Colin Church, Colin Berry
Usage data is cumulative from January 2026 through June 2026.
| Usage | JCI | PMC |
|---|---|---|
| Text version | 1,780 | 0 |
| 398 | 0 | |
| Figure | 334 | 0 |
| Table | 317 | 0 |
| Supplemental data | 523 | 0 |
| Citation downloads | 255 | 0 |
| Totals | 3,607 | 0 |
| Total Views | 3,607 | |
Usage information is collected from two different sources: this site (JCI) and Pubmed Central (PMC). JCI information (compiled daily) shows human readership based on methods we employ to screen out robotic usage. PMC information (aggregated monthly) is also similarly screened of robotic usage.
Various methods are used to distinguish robotic usage. For example, Google automatically scans articles to add to its search index and identifies itself as robotic; other services might not clearly identify themselves as robotic, or they are new or unknown as robotic. Because this activity can be misinterpreted as human readership, data may be re-processed periodically to reflect an improved understanding of robotic activity. Because of these factors, readers should consider usage information illustrative but subject to change.