Maria Anna Bazmpani1, Alexandra Arvanitaki2, Maria Toumpourleka3, Georgia Pitsiou4, Evangelia Panagiotidou5, Sophia Anastasia Mouratoglou6, Georgios Sianos7, Stavros Hadjimiltiades8, Antonios Pitsis9, Eckhard Mayer10, Ioannis Stanopoulos11, Haralambos Karvounis12, George Giannakoulas13. 1. First Cardiology Department, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: mariannabaz@hotmail.gr. 2. First Cardiology Department, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: m.alehadro@gmail.com. 3. First Cardiology Department, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: m.toumpourleka@gmail.com. 4. Respiratory Intensive Care Unit, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, G.H. "G. Papanikolaou", Exohi, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: gpitisou@yahoo.gr. 5. Respiratory Intensive Care Unit, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, G.H. "G. Papanikolaou", Exohi, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: evangeliapanagiotidou@gmail.com. 6. First Cardiology Department, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: s_mouratoglou@yahoo.gr. 7. First Cardiology Department, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: gsianos@auth.gr. 8. First Cardiology Department, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: stavros@otenet.gr. 9. Agios Lukas Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: apitsis@otenet.gr. 10. Kerckhoff Heart and Lung Center, Bad Nauheim, Germany. Electronic address: E.Mayer@kerckhoff-klinik.de. 11. Respiratory Intensive Care Unit, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, G.H. "G. Papanikolaou", Exohi, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: istan@otenet.gr. 12. First Cardiology Department, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: hkarvounis@hotmail.com. 13. First Cardiology Department, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: ggiannakoulas@auth.gr.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare, distinct pulmonary vascular disease, and therefore, there is a lack of data regarding its clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management at a national basis. We aimed to describe the demographics and management of patients with CTEPH in Northern Greece. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, observational study by a joint collaboration between two pulmonary hypertension expert centers in Greece, and the study included patients diagnosed with CTEPH. The patient population was divided into two groups depending on their operability. RESULTS: Overall, 27 consecutive patients were included (59% female, mean age 59.3±15.1 years). Dyspnea and fatigue were the most common presenting symptoms. History of pulmonary embolism was present in 82%. Of patients, 18 (67%) were assessed as operable, of whom 10 (55%) finally underwent pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). There were no differences in symptoms, WHO functional class, 6-min walking test distance, and hemodynamics between the operable and nonoperable groups. At the end of follow-up, all non-operable and operable patients who did not receive surgical treatment were treated with at least one pulmonary hypertension-specific drug. CONCLUSION: This is the first report that presents data of patients diagnosed with CTEPH in Greece. The percentage of patients who underwent surgical treatment is lower but approaches the reported rates in large registries. Considering that PEA is a relatively safe and potentially curative surgical procedure, we emphasize the need for establishing a designated PEA center in Greece.
OBJECTIVES:Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare, distinct pulmonary vascular disease, and therefore, there is a lack of data regarding its clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management at a national basis. We aimed to describe the demographics and management of patients with CTEPH in Northern Greece. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, observational study by a joint collaboration between two pulmonary hypertension expert centers in Greece, and the study included patients diagnosed with CTEPH. The patient population was divided into two groups depending on their operability. RESULTS: Overall, 27 consecutive patients were included (59% female, mean age 59.3±15.1 years). Dyspnea and fatigue were the most common presenting symptoms. History of pulmonary embolism was present in 82%. Of patients, 18 (67%) were assessed as operable, of whom 10 (55%) finally underwent pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). There were no differences in symptoms, WHO functional class, 6-min walking test distance, and hemodynamics between the operable and nonoperable groups. At the end of follow-up, all non-operable and operable patients who did not receive surgical treatment were treated with at least one pulmonary hypertension-specific drug. CONCLUSION: This is the first report that presents data of patients diagnosed with CTEPH in Greece. The percentage of patients who underwent surgical treatment is lower but approaches the reported rates in large registries. Considering that PEA is a relatively safe and potentially curative surgical procedure, we emphasize the need for establishing a designated PEA center in Greece.
Authors: Alexandra Arvanitaki; George Giannakoulas; Eva Triantafyllidou; Christos Feloukidis; Afroditi K Boutou; Alexandros Garyfallos; Haralambos Karvounis; Theodoros Dimitroulas Journal: Respir Res Date: 2021-01-21
Authors: Grzegorz Kopeć; Olga Dzikowska-Diduch; Ewa Mroczek; Tatiana Mularek-Kubzdela; Łukasz Chrzanowski; Ilona Skoczylas; Michał Tomaszewski; Małgorzata Peregud-Pogorzelska; Danuta Karasek; Ewa Lewicka; Wojciech Jacheć; Zbigniew Gąsior; Piotr Błaszczak; Katarzyna Ptaszyńska-Kopczyńska; Katarzyna Mizia-Stec; Andrzej Biederman; Dariusz Zieliński; Roman Przybylski; Piotr Kędzierski; Marcin Waligóra; Marek Roik; Marek Grabka; Joanna Orłowska; Aleksander Araszkiewicz; Marta Banaszkiewicz; Sylwia Sławek-Szmyt; Szymon Darocha; Wojciech Magoń; Alicja Dąbrowska-Kugacka; Jakub Stępniewski; Kamil Jonas; Karol Kamiński; Jarosław D Kasprzak; Piotr Podolec; Piotr Pruszczyk; Adam Torbicki; Marcin Kurzyna Journal: Ther Adv Chronic Dis Date: 2021-03-25 Impact factor: 5.091
Authors: Stefan Guth; Martin Juenemann; Jasmin El Shazly; Tibo Gerriets; Juergen Hennig; Marius Butz; Sabrina Kastaun; Christoph B Wiedenroth; Markus Schoenburg; Marc Wollenschlaeger; Georg Bachmann Journal: J Thorac Dis Date: 2021-10 Impact factor: 2.895