[Clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (Part 1)]

Rehabilitation in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

For patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) there have been no recommendations for physical rehabilitation for a long time, and in fact physical activity was discouraged. Nowadays, the position regarding exercise in patients with PH has changed studies have shown the safety and effectiveness of exercise in these patients. Most of the studies published to date on rehabilitation in patients with PH have assessed its effect on exercise tolerance. This review provides an overview of published studies and their conclusions on the effectiveness of rehabilitation in patients with chronic thromboembolic hypertension being as a complex therapy using medical and surgical methods of treatment and rehabilitation. The inclusion of rehabilitation in complex treatment allows to achieve patients highest possible tolerance to physical activity, increase in the functional class, quality of life and restore working capacity.

Characteristics of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension according to the Russian National Registry

Aim. To assess demographic and clinical characteristics, to describe of the functional and hemodynamic status, profile of concomitant pathology, data of instrumental examination in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) patients; to study the features of specific and supportive therapy according to the data of the Russian national registry. Materials and methods. From 2012 till 2020 a multicenter, prospective study in 15 regional expert centers of the Russian Federation (www.medibase.pro) included 404 newly diagnosed CTEPH patients over the age of 18 years in the Russian registry of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and CTEPH (NCT03707561). The diagnosis was established by European and Russian clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pulmonary hypertension. 154 inoperable CTEPH patients an additional analysis of specific and supportive therapy was performed. Results. The study included 404 patients (55.6% women and 44.3% men) at the age of 58.6 [48.6; 69.3] years. Median time from symptom onset to the diagnosis verification waswas 2.4 years (from 0.1 to 2.9 years). 79.1% of patients were in the III and IV functional class (World Health Organization) at the time of diagnosis and in 44.1% with RHF (right heart failure). In assessing the profile of concomitant pathology, it was noted that CTEPH patients were more often with arterial hypertension (39.1%), erosive-ulcerative lesions of the stomach/duodenum (16.1%), atrial fibrillation (13.8%), obesity (13.1%). Distance in 6MWD (6-min walk distance) was 337.2 [250; 422] m, Borg dyspnea index scale 4.1 [3.0; 5.0] points. Hemodynamic parameters according to right heart catheterization were: Mean PAP (pulmonary arterial pressure) (51.114.04) mmHg, CO (cardiac output) (3.50.98) l/min, CI (cardiac index) (2.00.48) l/min/m2, PVR (2008528) dyns/cm5. Conclusion. According to the Russian registry, inoperable CTEPH patients had precapillary PH (pulmonary hypertension) with severe functional status, in combination with frequent concomitant pathology (arterial hypertension, erosive-ulcerative lesions of the stomach/duodenum, atrial fibrillation, obesity, right heart failure). 66% of inoperable CTEPH patients received specific drug therapy.

COVID-19 as a cause of chronic pulmonary hypertension: pathophysiological rationale and potential of instrumental investigations

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a poorly understood and dangerous medical problem. COVID-19-related pulmonary vessels involvement is a complex set of interrelated pathophysiological processes associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction and accompanied by thrombosis of various localization, vasomotor disorders, severe respiratory failure, as well as pulmonary embolism (PE) resulting in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). According to computed tomographic pulmonary angiography, the incidence of PE in patients with COVID-19 ranges from 23 to 30%. The aim of this work was to focus the doctors' attention on the risk of pulmonary hypertension in patients after COVID-19.

Despite the ability of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to infect various organs and systems, the main and most serious complications are pulmonary infiltration, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute respiratory failure and PE, which in some cases becomes the triggering mechanism for CTEPH development. The literature review presents data on main pathological abnormalities developing in target organs during COVID-19 and playing an important role in increasing the CTEPH risk. The paper describes the main methods of instrumental investigations of CTEPH and an algorithm for its use in COVID-19 survivors.

The revealed data demonstrated that the absence of obvious signs of pulmonary hypertension/CTEPH, the cardiopulmonary system abnormalities cannot be ruled out. Therefore, it seems appropriate to actively follow up COVID-19 survivors. A thoroughly, purposefully collected anamnesis, pulmonary function tests and stress echocardiography in an ambiguous clinical situation will play a leading role as they identify cardiopulmonary disorders and provide the doctor with basic information for further planning of patient management.

[Influence of demographic characteristics on the clinical course and results of therapy in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension]

AIM

To assess the clinical course of the disease and the features of the treatment goals achievement in patients with IPAH and inoperable CTEPH depending on gender and age at the time of diagnosis verification.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 88 patients with IPAH and 38 patients with inoperable CTEPH with a PAWP 12 mm Hg and the duration of PAH-specific therapy treatment more than 12 months. IPAH/CTEPH patients were divided into groups depending on age at the time of diagnosis verification: age 50 years (n=69)/ 50 years (n=57), and gender: 106 women/20 men.

RESULTS

Patients with age 50 years at the time of diagnosis verification have significantly more severe functional class (WHO). In IPAH/CTEPH male patients a significant hemodynamic disorder also as significantly higher level of NT-proBNP at the time of diagnosis verification were observed. In men with IPAH/CTEPH and patients aged 50 years more pronounced deterioration of right ventricular systolic function was observed (ECHO). Patients with IPAH younger than 50 years were significantly more likely to achieve the treatment goals by the median 26.5 months of treatment compared to the patients aged 50 years (21% vs 6.45%). Men with IPAH/CTEPH were significantly more likely to have a high risk of death (90%) at baseline compared to the women (61%).

CONCLUSION

IPAH/inoperable CTEPH patients with male sex, as well as the age 50 years and older at the time of diagnosis verification, compared with younger ones, are associated with a less favorable course of the disease.

[The soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator riociguat is the first-line therapy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients]

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a precapillary type of pulmonary hypertension with chronic obstruction of large and medium branches of pulmonary arteries along with secondary alterations in pulmonary microcirculation, which cause progressive increases in pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary arterial pressure and ensuing severe right heart dysfunction and heart failure. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) is the treatment of choice for CTEPH; however, this procedure is available not for all patients. Although the surgery performed in the conditions of centers with advanced experience generally shows good results, up to 40% of patients are technically inoperable or PTE is associated with a high risk of complications. At present, riociguat, the only officially approved drug from the class of soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators, is considered as a first-line treatment for inoperable and residual forms of STEPH. Introduction of riociguat to clinical practice can be called a real breakthrough in the treatment of patients with STEPH who cannot undergo PTE or those with relapse or persistent STEPH after the surgery.

[Possibility of complex medicamental and endovascular treatment of pulmonary hypertension in Takayasu arteritis with predominant pulmonary arteries' lesion]

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a systemic vasculitis with predominatly lesions of aorta and its large branches. In some cases pulmonary arteries (PA) are involved in the pathological inflammatory process and lead to the formation of pulmonary hypertension and significantly worse the prognosis. Timely development of lesion of PA, appointment of adequate therapy and surgical treatment can prevent irreversible damage of blood vessels and improve the prognosis. Perioperative administration of interleukin-6 inhibitor inhibitor (tocilizumab) in at patients with indications for vascular surgery, including angioplasty PA, should be considered as a promising approach to control the inflammatory activity of TA, reduce the dose of glucocorticoids and the risk of postoperative complications. We present the clinical experience of significant improvement in the patients condition was achieved by using two-stage balloon angioplasty on the background of control of the disease activity with interleukin-6 tocilizumab intravenously and specific therapy with riociguat and iloprost.

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty for patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

AIM

To evaluate the effectiveness of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) in patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty patients with inoperable CTEPH were enrolled in this study. The indications were determined by multidisciplinary team. The average age of patients was 53.5 [43; 63] years. In 65% of cases patients had functional class III (according to WHO); the distance in the 6-minute walk test (6MWD) was 327 [280; 400] m; catheterization of the right heart revealed systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) 82 [64; 100] mm Hg, mean pulmonary artery (mPAP) 48.5 [38; 56] mm Hg, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) 784 [525; 1257] dyn·s/cm-5. Each patient underwent 6 BPA.

RESULTS

The effectiveness of BPA was assessed 2 months after the last session. According to the data of right heart catheterization SPAP decreased by 27.3%, mPAP by 26%, PVR by 34.5% from baseline. After all series of BPA echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated reverse remodeling of the right heart. Also significant decrease in the level of BNP by 62%, increasing in 6MWD distance by 39% and improvement of the functional class up to I in 60% cases and up to II in 40% cases were noted.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study demonstrated a high efficacy of BPA allowing to normalize hemodynamic and clinical parameters, increasing the physical activity. Balloon pulmonary angioplasty is a new highly effective, safe method for treating patients with inoperable CTEPH.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and a concomitant psychiatric disorder

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) can cause right heart failure. A concomitant psychiatric disorder (PD) is thought to increase the risk of acute pulmonary thromboembolism; however, whether PDs are associated with deterioration in CTEPH pathophysiology is unclear. In this study, we evaluated the clinical characteristics and prognoses in patients with CTEPH and a co-existing PD. We retrospectively identified 229 consecutive patients (mean age = 58.7 ± 12.5 years; 160 women) with CTEPH and categorized them according to whether they had a PD (PD group; n = 22, 9.7%) or not (non-PD group; n = 207, 90.3%). We compared the clinical characteristics, respiratory function, hemodynamics, and clinical courses in the two groups. Those in the PD group had significantly lower exercise tolerance compared to the non-PD group (6-min walk test, 309.5 ± 89.5 m vs. 369.4 ± 97.9 m, P = 0.008, percent vital capacity 85.5% ± 17.3% vs. 96.0% ± 15.5%, P = 0.003) and partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) (54.4 ± 8.6 mmHg vs. 59.3 ± 10.7 mmHg, P = 0.039). Three-year survival was significantly poorer in the PD group compared to the non-PD group (66.1% vs 89.7%, P = 0.0026, log-rank test), particularly in patients who underwent surgery (62.2% vs 89.5%, P < 0.001, log-rank test). A concomitant PD was associated with low exercise tolerance and impaired respiratory function in patients with CTEPH and predicted poor survival, especially in those who underwent a pulmonary endarterectomy.

Predictors of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

PURPOSE

to elucidate predictors of development of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) after acute pulmonary artery thromboembolism (PTE).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We included in this study 210 patients hospitalized with diagnosis of submassive and massive PTE from 2013 to 2017. In 1 to 3 years after initial hospitalization these patients were invited for control examination. According to results of this examination patients were divided into two groups: with (group 1, n=45) and without (group 2, n=165) signs of CTEPH. Severity of pulmonary artery vascular bed involvement was assessed by multislice computed tomography (MSCT) angiography and lung scintigraphy. For detection of thrombosis in the inferior vena cava system we used ultrasound angioscanning.   Examination also included echocardiography.

RESULTS

In the process of mathematical analysis, the following risk factors for the development of CTEPH embolism were determined: duration of thrombotic history (group 1 - 13.70±2.05 days, group 2- 16.16±1.13 days, p=0.015), localization of venous thrombosis in the lower extremities (the most favorable - shin veins, popliteal, and common femoral veins, unfavorable - superficial femoral vein). The choice of the drug for thrombolytic and anticoagulant therapy: streptokinase and urokinase were significantly more effective than alteplase, rivaroxaban was superior to the combination of unfractionated or low molecular weight heparins with warfarin. Also, risk factors for the development of CTEPH were the initial degree of pulmonary hypertension and tricuspid insufficiency, as well as the positive dynamics of these indicators at the background of thrombolytic or anticoagulant therapy. Of concomitant diseases, significant risk factors for development of CTEPH were grade 3 hypertensive disease, diabetes mellitus, post-infarction cardiosclerosis. On the other hand, age, gender, degree of severity at the time of admission, presence of infarction pneumonia, surgical prevention of recurrent pulmonary embolism, number of pregnancies and deliveries, history of trauma and malignancies, cardiac arrhythmias produced no significant impact on the development of CTEPH.