title: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension after the first episode of pulmonary embolism? How often?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surviving pulmonary embolism (PE) brings a risk of thromboembolic disease chronicity. Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) develops as a result of one or multiple pulmonary embolic events. It is an incapacitating long-term complication of thromboembolic disease with a negative impact on the patient's quality of life and prognosis. Contemporary pharmacological and especially surgical treatment possibilities offer hope for the patient's full recovery, but an early diagnosis is crucial for success.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study cohort of 97 consecutive patients with a proven diagnosis of PE as the first documented thromboembolic event we tried to estimate the incidence of CTEPH during a 2-year follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four individuals from our study population developed CTEPH, which represents an incidence of 4.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in pulmonary embolism survivors is a not uncommon complication deserving the attention of clinicians. Patients at risk of CTEPH can be identified for effective follow-up according to echocardiographic finding of elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure and NT-proBNP levels at the time of hospital discharge.
authors.affiliation: 1st Internal Department of Cardioangiology University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vavera
authors.affiliation: 1st Internal Department of Cardioangiology University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vojacek
authors.affiliation: 1st Internal Department of Cardioangiology University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Radek
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pudil
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maly
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elias
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications*; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
keywords: chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension; incidence; pulmonary embolism