First-pass contrast bolus hemodynamics contain information on right ventricular function, remodeling, and lung resistance in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients

Background In pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), increased vascular resistance causes functional and structural changes in the right ventricle (RV), ultimately leading to right heart failure and death. Predictors of patient survival include RV cardiac index (RVCI) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). First-pass contrast bolus hemodynamics, such as cardiopulmonary transit time (PTT), full-width-half-maximum (FWHM), and time-to-peak, have been associated with left ventricular (LV) function; however, their relation to RV function and pulmonary hemodynamics as well as their significance in PAH have not been investigated.