Efficacy of Triple-Combination Therapy in Severe PAH-CHD

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) worldwide. Treatment for PAH associated with CHD (PAH-CHD) depends on the defect's type, size, and hemodynamic impact. For those with CHD correction indications, early defect repair or interventional closure is crucial to prevent irreversible pulmonary vascular remodeling due to prolonged exposure to a left-to-right shunt.

Current guidelines recommend triple-combination therapy, including phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonist, and parenteral prostacyclin, for patients with intermediate-high or high risk. Recent studies suggest that patients with PAH-CHD and borderline hemodynamics might regain eligibility for surgery after targeted vasodilatory treatment. Consequently, early initiation of triple-combination therapy may be critical for severe PAH-CHD patients to restore their surgical or interventional closure eligibility. Therefore, we conducted this prospective study to assess the effectiveness of triple-combination therapy in severe PAH-CHD cases.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subject is diagnosed with congenital heart diseases (CHD) and associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)
2. Subject is under borderline hemodynamics status and ineligible for congenital heart diseases closure, confirmed by RHC: Qp/Qs：\< 1.5, Rp/Rs \> 0.3 and PVR \> 5 Wood units
3. Subject signs an informed Consent Form and is willing to participate in follow-up visits

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subject is diagnosed with other etiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension, e.g. left heart diseases associated pulmonary arterial hypertension.
2. Subject is diagnosed with other types of PAH-CHD, e.g. Eisenmenger syndrome, PAH with small/coincidentalb defects
3. Subject had cerebral hemorrhage, bleeding events in other organs within 3 months or was in high risk of bleeding.
4. Subject is diagnosed of hepatic insufficiency: ALT or AST\>3×ULN at the screening visit.
5. Subject is diagnosed of moderate to severe renal insufficiency: eGFR\<30ml/min/1.73m2 at the screening visit.
6. Subject has uncontrolled arrhythmia with clinical significance within 90 days.
7. Subject is diagnosed of the following diseases or received following medical interventions with 90 days: unstable angina, severe coronary atherosclerosis or myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting, carotid artery intervention, peripheral artery intervention.
8. Subject is diagnosed of malignant tumor (exception: tumors that have been cured and have not recurred in the last 5 years, basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers that have been completely resected, and cancers of any type in situ that have been completely resected)
9. Subject cannot follow the study procedure due to other acute or chronic diseases.
10. Subject is under other RCT.
11. Subject has a life expectancy \<1 year.
12. Subject cannot follow the study procedure due to other reasons in the opinion of the investigators. (alcoholic, drug abuse, lack of compliance)