Cerebral tissue oxygenation in arterial and thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Background: Arterial and thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (PH) lead to hypoxemia. Methods: We hypothesised that PH-patients have an impaired cerebral tissue oxygenation (CTO) at rest and during exercise in comparison to healthy controls, and that CTO may be improved by inhalation of oxygen or nitric oxide. Patients undergoing right heart catheterization due to unexplained dyspnea were included. Pulmonary hemodynamics, blood oxygenation and CTO by near infrared spectroscopy were assessed after 10 min of breathing room air, nitric oxide and oxygen, each randomized, cross-over, and during supine maximal bicycl…