A form of pulmonary hypertension known as chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension may be under-diagnosed and under-treated, a review of research articles suggests. The study, “An epidemiological analysis of the burden of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in the USA, Europe and Japan,” was published in the European…

Among people with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), risk assessments and treatment patterns prior to surgical procedures do not predict outcomes after surgery, a new study from Sweden shows. The results suggest that most CTEPH patients who don’t undergo surgery remain in the same risk category for at least…

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) appears to be of multiple benefit to patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), both in terms of hemodynamics and in other systemic disorders like glycemic control and kidney disease, according to a study published in the journal Circulation, titled “Multiple Beneficial Effects of Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty in Patients…

In this video from the Fondazione Internazionale Menarini, Dr. Vittorio Pengo discusses his presentation of the pathophysiology and treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). MORE: Find out how doctors diagnosed pulmonary hypertension and CTEPH. Dr. Pengo explains that CTEPH is a treatable disease that occurs in 0.5…

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty, a procedure to widen narrowed lung blood vessels, was still benefitting patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) six months after doctors performed it, a Japanese study found. The procedure increased patients’ cardiac output, or amount of the blood the heart is pumping, and exercise capacity, researchers said.

A research journal recently reviewed the use of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA), a new option for people with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary arterial hypertension. The work, titled “Balloon pulmonary angioplasty for inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension“ appeared in the July 7, 2015 issue of…

Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) quickly and significantly improved blood flow dynamics and right-sided heart function in people with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), with the surgery’s benefits sustained over the long term, a small study shows. Notably, right ventricular (RV) free wall strain, an indirect and non-invasive measure of…

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) may be mitigated by pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, which prevents the need for lung transplant, a new case report shows. The study, “Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy for Pulmonary Hypertension Before Considering Transplant,” appeared in The Ochsner Journal. CTEPH is observed in approximately 4% of cases…

Treatment with Uptravi (selexipag) significantly improved blood flow parameters in people with inoperable or persistent chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in a Phase 3 clinical trial, although its use did not significantly affect measures of physical abilities. Full trial results are in “Selexipag for the treatment of…

Metabolic differences affecting energy production were observed in endothelial cells — the cells that line blood vessels — from patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). These distinctions could underlie differences in disease mechanisms and necessary treatment approaches, according to a recent study.

Nearly a third of individuals with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) live with mental health disorders that impair their overall quality of life, a study in Germany has found. The significant impact of panic disorder, major depression, and other mental disorders on life quality suggests that adequate screening tools…

The vasodilator Adempas (riociguat) increases the ability of endothelial progenitor cells to halt vascular remodeling and enhance formation of new blood vessels in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), according to a new in vitro (in the lab) study. This may be particularly helpful for CTEPH patients…