Echocardiographic index for pulmonary hypertension discrimination in patients after pulmonary embolism - pilot study

Abstract

Aims: Patients with residual perfusion defects and echocardiographic signs of pulmonary hypertension (PH) are referred for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) evaluation. The first aim of this study was to test an echocardiographic index as a screening marker for pre-capillary PH. The secondary aim was to assess its potential for PH type discrimination. Methods and results: The single-center’s retrospective cohort included 79 patients divided by gender, age, presence of chronic perfusion defects diagnosed by computer tomography (CT) or angiography, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/systolic pulmonary artery pressure (TAPSE/sPAP), right ventricle (RV) basal diameter, the ratio (TAPSE/sPAP)/RV x 100, PH groups – CTEPH/pre-capillary, combined pre- and post-capillary (CpcPH) and isolated post-capillary (IpcPH) and no PH. From a total of 79 patients – 43(54%) men and 36(46%) women at a mean age of 65, residual clots were detected in 42(53%). Analysis of invasive haemodynamic and echocardiographic data diagnosed no PH in 22 (28%), IpcPH – 25 (32%), CpcPH – 16 (20%) and CTEPH - 16(20%). There was a statistically significant difference in the mean index values between all PH subtypes groups (p < 0.001). Further analysis proved (TAPSE/sPAP)/RV x 100 to be statistically significant discriminator of PH subtypes and defined patients with a value above 1.79 as likely having no PH, leading post-capillary PH in the range of 0.83-1.79, pre-capillary PH < 0.52 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The index might serve as a screening method for CTEPH and possible PH type discrimination. 

Keywords

• pulmonary hypertension
• pulmonary embolism
• chroni