Hyperbilirubinemia as a Prognostic Factor for a Patient with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Patient selection: PAH without additional liver disease

Laboratory testing was performed in patients after a 3 month period free from hospitalization and without change in functional class, treatment or vital signs.

Hyperbilirubinemia (defined as a serum total bilirubin > 1.2 mg/dL or > 20.6 µmol/L) was found to be a significant predictor of mortality during the followup period (up to 3 years).

Additional prognostic factors:

(1) higher functional class (WHO functional class)

(2) high plasma concentration of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)