Acute improvement of pulmonary hemodynamics does not alleviate Cheyne-Stokes respiration in chronic heart failure – a randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover trial

Background: Studies confirmed Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) to be associated with elevated pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) in chronic heart failure (CHF). This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of lowering PCWP and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) on CSR severity. Methods: 21 consecutive patients with CHF and CSR (apnea-hypopnea-index (AHI≥15/h)) underwent right heart catheterization, followed by infusion of glyceryltrinitrate (GTN), and inhalation of iloprost. Throughout the procedure PAP and PCWP was measured invasively. Afterwards maximum tolerable dosage of GTN and iloprost were randoml…