scholarly journals Medical management of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (143) ◽  
pp. 160107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Pepke-Zaba ◽  
Hossein-Ardeschir Ghofrani ◽  
Marius M. Hoeper

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) results from incomplete resolution of acute pulmonary emboli, organised into fibrotic material that obstructs large pulmonary arteries, and distal small-vessel arteriopathy. Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the treatment of choice for eligible patients with CTEPH; in expert centres, PEA has low in-hospital mortality rates and excellent long-term survival. Supportive medical therapy consists of lifelong anticoagulation plus diuretics and oxygen, as needed.An important recent advance in medical therapy for CTEPH is the arrival of medical therapies for patients with inoperable disease or persistent/recurrent pulmonary hypertension after PEA. The soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator riociguat is licensed for the treatment of CTEPH in patients with inoperable disease or with recurrent/persistent pulmonary hypertension after PEA. Clinical trials of this agent have shown improvements in patients' haemodynamics and exercise capacity. Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonists and prostanoids have been used in the treatment of CTEPH, but evidence of benefit is limited. Challenges in the future development of medical therapy for CTEPH include better understanding of the underlying pathology, end-points to monitor the condition's progress, and the optimisation of pulmonary arterial hypertension therapies in relation to diverse patient characteristics and emerging options such as balloon pulmonary angioplasty.

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. e28-e32
Author(s):  
Ryan Logue ◽  
Zeenat Safdar

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a common long-term complication of pulmonary embolism characterized by thromboembolic obstruction of the pulmonary arteries, vascular arteriopathy, vascular remodeling, and ultimately pulmonary hypertension (PH). Although pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) surgery is the standard of care, approximately 40% of patients in the international CTEPH registry were deemed inoperable. In addition to lifelong anticoagulation, the cornerstone of PH-specific medical management is riociguat, a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator. Medical management should be started early in CTEPH patients and may be used as a bridge to PEA surgery or balloon pulmonary angiography. Medical management is indicated for inoperable CTEPH patients and patients who have recurrence of PH after PEA surgery.


2020 ◽  
pp. 089719002096129
Author(s):  
Marianne Kenny ◽  
Megan M. Clarke ◽  
Kristen T. Pogue

Pulmonary hypertension (PH), which includes pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), is a progressive condition with significant morbidity and mortality due to right heart failure if left untreated. Riociguat is a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator and is the only treatment approved for both PAH and CTEPH. The objectives of this review are to describe the epidemiology and pathophysiology of PAH and CTEPH; synthesize the pharmacology, efficacy, safety, and utilization of riociguat; and discuss the role of the pharmacist in managing patients with these conditions. Data presented in this review is supported by peer reviewed literature, using PubMed and key words including pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary arterial hypertension, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, and riociguat. The review draws on key studies and review articles that discuss the pathophysiology of PAH and CTEPH, as well as articles discussing the safety and efficacy of riociguat. The overall goal in the treatment of PAH and CTEPH is to improve long-term survival. Treatment planning depends on the type of PH, treatment goals, comorbidities, and risk profiles. Pharmacists serve a valuable role as part of the multidisciplinary team in the care of patients with PH, many of whom may have comorbidities that contribute to high costs and resource utilization. Riociguat is a first-in-class medication and the only approved treatment for both PAH and CTEPH. In clinical trials, riociguat has demonstrated favorable efficacy and tolerability. Riociguat is a valuable addition to the armamentarium of options for treating patients with PH.


2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 193-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josanna Rodriguez-Lopez ◽  
Richard N. Channick

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is pulmonary hypertension (PH) secondary to chronic emboli, obstructing the pulmonary arteries. This results in increased pulmonary vascular resistance and right ventricular failure. CTEPH is the only form of PH that is potentially curable, through a surgical procedure that removes the chronic emboli: pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). The first step in managing patients diagnosed with CTEPH is to determine if they are operable. The use of medical therapy should never delay referral for surgery, which should be done at a specialized center with expertise in CTEPH. Since a significant proportion of CTEPH patients are not surgical candidates, or are among the 10% to 15% of patients that have persistent or recurrent PH after surgery, there is a need for effective medical therapy. The use of several pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)-targeted agents have been studied, mostly in small uncontrolled trials. A recent Phase 3 clinical trial found riociguat, a stimulator of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), to be effective for inoperable CTEPH.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 539-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Davey ◽  
Raymond L. Benza ◽  
Srinivas Murali ◽  
Amresh Raina

Riociguat is a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. We studied the clinical and hemodynamics effects of transitioning 12 pulmonary hypertension patients from Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) to riociguat, and demonstrated a significant increase in cardiac index, fall in pulmonary vascular resistance, and improvement in functional class with this switch. Switch from PDE5i to riociguat appeared to be safe and fairly well tolerated in most patients.


Kardiologiia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (8) ◽  
pp. 115-123
Author(s):  
Z. S. Valieva ◽  
S. E. Gratsianskaya ◽  
T. V. Martynyuk

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a precapillary type of pulmonary hypertension with chronic obstruction of large and medium branches of pulmonary arteries along with secondary alterations in pulmonary microcirculation, which cause progressive increases in pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary arterial pressure and ensuing severe right heart dysfunction and heart failure. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) is the treatment of choice for CTEPH; however, this procedure is available not for all patients. Although the surgery performed in the conditions of centers with advanced experience generally shows good results, up to 40% of patients are technically inoperable or PTE is associated with a high risk of complications. At present, riociguat, the only officially approved drug from the class of soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators, is considered as a first-line treatment for inoperable and residual forms of STEPH. Introduction of riociguat to clinical practice can be called a real breakthrough in the treatment of patients with STEPH who cannot undergo PTE or those with relapse or persistent STEPH after the surgery.


Respiration ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Bartenstein ◽  
Stéphanie Saxer ◽  
Paula Appenzeller ◽  
Mona Lichtblau ◽  
Esther I. Schwarz ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (136) ◽  
pp. 272-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marius M. Hoeper

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare but life-threatening disease resulting from unresolved thromboembolic obstructions. Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) surgery is the gold-standard treatment as it is potentially curative; however, not all patients are deemed operable and up to one-third have persistent or recurrent CTEPH after the procedure. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and CTEPH have similar clinical presentations and histopathological features, so agents shown to be effective in PAH have often been prescribed to patients with CTEPH in the absence of proven therapies. However, clinical evidence for this strategy is not compelling. A number of small uncontrolled trials have investigated endothelin receptor antagonists, prostacyclin analogues and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors in CTEPH with mixed results, and a phase III study of the endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan met only one of its two co-primary end-points. Recently, however, the soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator, riociguat, was approved in the USA and Europe for the treatment of inoperable or persistent/recurrent CTEPH following positive results from the phase III CHEST study (Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension Soluble Guanylate Cyclase–Stimulator Trial). This article reviews the current evidence for the use of pharmacological therapies in CTEPH.


1998 ◽  
Vol 80 (08) ◽  
pp. 231-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ignatescu ◽  
G. Zorn ◽  
M. Kneussl ◽  
G. Maurer ◽  
I. M. Lang ◽  
...  

SummaryChronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a disease resulting from the thromboembolic obstruction of the segmental and/or large size pulmonary arteries, subsequently leading to pulmonary arterial hypertension. Incomplete resolution of acute pulmonary emboli and thrombus organization are believed to be important for the development of the disease. Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is a further disease that at present is poorly understood but shows a clinical picture similar to CTEPH. Since lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], a genetically determined risk factor for atherosclerosis and thrombosis, has been found increased in plasma of patients with deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, we measured plasma Lp(a) levels in 40 patients with CTEPH and 50 patients with PPH and compared them to 50 matched controls. The median for Lp(a) plasma levels was significantly higher in CTEPH patients (26.6 mg/dl) than in PPH patients (9.6 mg/dl) and controls (7.2 mg/dl). Increased plasma Lp(a) could, therefore, play a significant role in the mechanisms of ongoing thrombosis and thrombus organization in CTEPH, while its possible role in PPH can be limited to a small number of patients.


2013 ◽  
Vol 305 (12) ◽  
pp. L934-L942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marijke Wynants ◽  
Leanda Vengethasamy ◽  
Alicja Ronisz ◽  
Bart Meyns ◽  
Marion Delcroix ◽  
...  

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is characterized by thrombofibrotic obstruction of proximal pulmonary arteries. The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis remain incompletely understood, although we recently evidenced the potential involvement of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP). We aimed to investigate the intracellular mechanisms induced by CRP in proximal pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (PAEC). PAEC were isolated from vascular material obtained during pulmonary endarterectomy. RNA was extracted from CRP-stimulated PAEC, and first-stand cDNA was generated. A RT2 profiler PCR Array was used to evaluate the expression of 84 key genes related to NF-κB-mediated signal transduction. CRP-induced NF-κB activation was studied. The effects of pyrrolidine-dithio-carbamate ammonium (PDTC), an inhibitor of the NF-κB pathway, were investigated on CRP-induced adhesion of monocytes to PAEC, adhesion molecule expression, endothelin-1 (ET-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and von Willebrand factor (vWF) secretion. Compared with nonstimulated PAEC, serotonin receptor 2B was downregulated by 25%, inhibitor of NF-κB kinase subunit epsilon (IKBKE) by 30%, and toll-like receptor-4 and -6 by 18 and 39%, respectively, in CRP-stimulated PAEC. The transcription factor FOS was threefold upregulated. CRP induced RelA/NF-κBp65 phosphorylation. PDTC dose dependently inhibited the adhesion of monocytes to CRP-stimulated PAEC. PDTC also inhibited the CRP-induced expression of ICAM-1 at the surface of PAEC. PDTC impaired the secretion of ET-1 by 18% and tended to inhibit the secretion of IL-6 by CRP-stimulated PAEC by 46%. PDTC did not inhibit the CRP-induced secretion of vWF. These results suggest an involvement of the NF-κB pathway in mediating different effects of CRP on proximal CTEPH-PAEC.


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