Chronic pulmonary thromboembolism.
Chronic pulmonary thromboembolism is a rare but treatable cause of pulmonary hypertension. We are describing two patients with limited mobility and dyspnoea. Neither of the patients had clinical evidence of deep vein thrombosis. A high level of clinical suspicion is required for the diagnosis. Spiral CT scan establishes the diagnosis avoiding the need for pulmonary angiography. Surgical endarterectomy is the treatment of choice. Life-long anticoagulation therapy is recommended for patients in whom surgery cannot be performed. Untreated, the condition carries a high mortality.
Irfan
Muhammad
M
Section of Pulmonary Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. muhammad.irfan@aku.edu
Hussain
Syed Fayyaz
SF
D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
D000925:Anticoagulants