Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension After Pulmonary Embolism

Chronic thrombo embolic pulmonary hypertension(CTEPH)is a progressive pulmonary vascular disease characterized by chronic obstruction of major pulmonary arteries with flow-limiting organized thrombi. In the clinical classification of the 6thWorld Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension, CTEPH/chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease(CTED)are in group4, labeled as PH due to pulmonary artery obstruction. CTEPH should be considered in PE patients if:(1)they report symptoms that could be related to CTEPH or with frank right heart failure,(2)the CTPA used to diagnose acute PE shows signs indicative of CTEPH,(3)they have risk factors or predisposing conditions for CTEPH. Recurrent venous thromboembolism(VTE),post-thrombotic syndrome, bleeding ,and functional limitations as important outcome measures of acute PE treatment , Dyspnea ,anxiety, chest pain ,post-thrombotic panic syndrome, and depression that lead to persistent functional limitations and/or decreased quality of life have been labeled as post-PE syndrome(PPS),includes CTEPH. Early diagnosis of CTEPH is important ,as it is the only form of PH that is potentially curable , but also challenging because signs of right heart failure only become evident in advanced disease stages and earlier disease stages are characterized by non specific or even absence of symptoms. The diagnostic work up of suspected CTEPH ,starts with trans thoracic Doppler echocardiography, In addition to the peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity , the right ventricle/left ventricle basal diameter ratio, flattening of the interventricular septum, right ventricular acceleration time and/or mid systolic notching, inferior vena cava diameter with decreased inspiratory collapse and right atrial area are used echocardiographic signs to assess the probability of PH.