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…

Many people with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension or CTEPH have a particular anatomical variation called May-Thurner anatomy, which may increase the risk of developing this rare disease type, according to researchers. A new study found this anomaly is very common in individuals with CTEPH, with nearly 30% of patients…

Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) and balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) — two treatment approaches for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) — significantly improved blood flow dynamics and functional capacity in patients given either procedure, a study from Norway reported. PEA was more effective at reducing pressure and resistance in the lungs’…

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) — a type of blood thinner medication — are as safe and effective as vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), the standard blood thinner used to treat chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), according to a meta-analysis of published studies. The findings support the use of DOACs as a…

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) may be an inherited genetic disease, a new study suggests. The results were recently presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2018 annual conference May 18-23 in San Diego. CTEPH, a rare form of pulmonary hypertension, is caused by blood clots that travel to the…

Findings collected during more than two years confirming the safety and efficacy of Bayer’s Adempas® (riociguat) in treating either inoperable or persistent/recurrent chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), and patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were recently presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress. Riociguat is the first member of…

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…

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…

Levels of the enzyme PRDX2 increase as a protective response in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and help reduce damage to blood vessels in the lungs, a new study in laboratory rats has found. The researchers discovered that the antioxidant enzyme worked to reduce vessel damage by limiting inflammation,…

Greater experience in balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) enables shorter hospital stays for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), reduces use of intensive care, and lowers medical costs while maintaining the procedure’s safety, according to new data from real-world practice in Japan. The study, “Shortening Hospital Stay Is…

A retrospective study found that patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) have more pronounced decreases in mental health than those with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The German study, “Anxiety, Depression, and Health-Related QOL in Patients Diagnosed with PAH or CTEPH,” appeared in the journal Lung. PAH and…

Researchers have identified distinct genetic changes tied to the severity of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Data showed that the expression (activity) of the ABCA3 gene was lower in IPAH patients, while that of the SMAD9 gene was increased in CTEPH, particularly…