title: Medical conditions increasing the risk of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.
abstract: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is characterized by organized thromboemboli that obstruct the pulmonary vascular bed. Although CTEPH is a serious complication of acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism in 4% of cases, signs, symptoms and classical risk factors for venous thromboembolism are lacking. The aim of the present study was to identify medical conditions conferring an increased risk of CTEPH. We performed a case-control-study comparing 109 consecutive CTEPH patients to 187 patients with acute pulmonary embolism that was confirmed by a high probability lung scan. Splenectomy (odds ratio=13, 95% CI 2.7-127), ventriculo-atrial (VA-) shunt for the treatment of hydrocephalus (odds ratio=13, 95% CI 2.5-129) and chronic inflammatory disorders, such as osteomyelitis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, odds ratio=67, 95% CI 7.9-8832) were associated with an increased risk of CTEPH.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Vienna, Department of Cardiology, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonderman
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jakowitsch
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adlbrecht
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schemper
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kyrle
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schönauer
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Exner
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Klepetko
authors.forename: Meinhard P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kneussl
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000628:therapy; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism; D012306:Risk; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013923:Thromboembolism