Pulmonary Hypertension Risk in People with Pulmonary Embolisms is Often Overlooked

by Marta Ribeiro | May 9, 2016

Results from a retrospective study based on a claims database of U.S. patients with pulmonary embolism indicated that physicians are failing to recognize and diagnose thousands of cases of the serious lung disease, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The study, “Monitoring for Pulmonary Hypertension Following Pulmonary Embolism: The INFORM Study,” was published in the American Journal of Medicine and funded by Bayer.

CTEPH, a rare form of pulmonary hypertension characterized by progressive dyspnea, is commonly seen as a long-term sequela of acute pulmonary embolism. It can lead to right heart failure if unrecognized and left untreated.

In many patients with CTEPH, dyspnea is attributed to other conditions, leading to a delayed diagnosis. The mean duration from onset of symptoms to a CTEPH diagnosis was estimated to be 2.7 years. Effective diagnosis is crucial as CTEPH is a treatable condition.

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About the Author

Marta Ribeiro Marta graduated from Universidade Fernando Pessoa in Porto with a degree in Communication Sciences and a Masters degree in New Communication Technologies. She has experience in social media, worked with several media channels, and has also worked as a freelance photographer and a graphic artist for almost 10 years.