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Ruaro B, Confalonieri P, Caforio G, Baratella E, Pozzan R, Tavano S, Bozzi C, Lerda S, Geri P, Biolo M, Cortale M, Confalonieri M, Salton F. Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: An Observational Study. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2022; 58:medicina58081094. [PMID: 36013561 PMCID: PMC9415110 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58081094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) has a high mortality. The treatment of CTEPH could be balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA), medical (MT) or pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). This study aims to assess the clinical characteristics of CTEPH patients, surgically or medically treated, in a pulmonology referral center. Materials and Methods: A total of 124 patients with PH with suspected CTEPH (53 male subjects and 71 female subjects; mean age at diagnosis 67 ± 6) were asked to give informed consent and then were evaluated. The presence of CTEPH was ascertained by medical evaluations, radiology and laboratory tests. Results: After the evaluation of all clinical data, 65 patients met the inclusion criteria for CTEPH and they were therefore enrolled (22 males and 43 females; mean age at diagnosis was 69 ± 8). 26 CTEPH patients were treated with PEA, 32 with MT and 7 with BPA. There was a statistically significant age difference between the PEA and MT groups, at the time of diagnosis, the PEA patients were younger than the MT patients, whereas there was no statistically significant difference in other clinical characteristics (e.g., smoking habit, thrombophilia predisposition), as well as functional and hemodynamic parameters (e.g., 6-min walk test, right heart catheterization). During three years of follow-up, no patients in the PEA groups died; conversely, eleven patients in the MT group died during the same period (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a significant decrease in plasma BNP values and an increase in a meter at the six-minute walk test, 1 and 3 years after surgery, were observed in the PEA group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study seems to confirm that pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) can provide an improvement in functional tests in CTEPH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Ruaro
- Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-040-399-4871
| | - Paola Confalonieri
- Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Gaetano Caforio
- Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Elisa Baratella
- Department of Radiology, Cattinara Hospital, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Riccardo Pozzan
- Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Stefano Tavano
- Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Chiara Bozzi
- Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Selene Lerda
- 24ore Business School, Via Monte Rosa, 91, 20149 Milan, Italy
| | - Pietro Geri
- Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Marco Biolo
- Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Maurizio Cortale
- Department of Medical, Surgical, & Health Sciences, Cattinara Hospital, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Marco Confalonieri
- Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Francesco Salton
- Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
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Ghofrani HA, D'Armini AM, Kim NH, Mayer E, Simonneau G. Interventional and pharmacological management of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Respir Med 2021; 177:106293. [PMID: 33465538 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2020.106293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is caused by obstruction of the pulmonary vasculature, leading to increased pulmonary vascular resistance and ultimately right ventricular failure, the leading cause of death in non-operated patients. This article reviews the current management of CTEPH. The standard of care in CTEPH is pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). However, up to 40% of patients with CTEPH are ineligible for PEA, and up to 51% develop persistent/recurrent PH after PEA. Riociguat is currently the only medical therapy licensed for treatment of inoperable or persistent/recurrent CTEPH after PEA based on the results of the Phase III CHEST-1 study. Studies of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) have shown benefits in patients with inoperable or persistent/recurrent CTEPH after PEA; however, data are lacking from large, prospective, controlled studies. Studies of macitentan in patients with inoperable CTEPH and treprostinil in patients with inoperable or persistent/recurrent CTEPH showed positive results. Combination therapy is under evaluation in CTEPH, and long-term data are not available. In the future, CTEPH may be managed by PEA, medical therapy or BPA - alone or in combination, according to individual patient needs. Patients should be referred to experienced centers capable of assessing and delivering all options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein-Ardeschir Ghofrani
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, Giessen, Germany; Department of Pneumology, Kerckhoff-Klinik, Bad Nauheim, Germany; Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Andrea M D'Armini
- Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Heart and Lung Transplantation and Pulmonary Hypertension Unit, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia School of Medicine, Pavia, Italy
| | - Nick H Kim
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - Eckhard Mayer
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kerckhoff Clinic, Bad Nauheim, Germany; Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Germany
| | - Gérald Simonneau
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Bicêtre, Université Paris-Saclay, Laboratoire d'Excellence en Recherche sur le Médicament et Innovation Thérapeutique, Le Kremlin, Bicêtre, France
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CT-Based Biomarkers for Prediction of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension After an Acute Pulmonary Embolic Event. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2020; 215:800-806. [PMID: 32809861 DOI: 10.2214/ajr.19.22541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to assess CT-based markers predictive of the development of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) after acute pulmonary embolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Identified from a search of local registries, 48 patients who had CTEPH develop were included in the study group, and 113 patients who had complete resolution of acute pulmonary embolism were included in the control group. Baseline CT scans obtained at the time of the initial pulmonary embolism event were evaluated for the degree of clot-induced vessel obstruction, the quantitative Walsh score, the ratio of the right ventricle diameter to the left ventricle diameter, the right atrium diameter, the pulmonary artery diameter, right heart thrombus, pericardial effusion, lung infarction, and mosaic attenuation. Classification and regression tree analysis was used to create a decision tree. The decision tree was externally validated on an anonymized cohort of 50 control subjects and 50 patients with CTEPH. RESULTS. During univariable analysis, an increase in the degree occlusive clot on initial imaging, a decrease in the Walsh score, absence of pericardial effusion, presence of lung infarction, and the presence of mosaic attenuation were associated with an increased probability of CTEPH development. In the final decision tree, the occlusive nature of the clot remained. Two patients in the cohort used for external validation had nondiagnostic findings and were excluded. The decision process correctly classified 33% (16/48) of patients who had CTEPH develop and 86% (43/50) of patients who did not have CTEPH develop, for an odds ratio of 3.1 (95% CI, 1.1-8.3). CONCLUSION. The presence of an occlusive clot on initial imaging is associated with an increased probability of CTEPH development. Presence of mosaic attenuation and lung infarction may also predict CTEPH development, although additional studies are needed.
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