Transcriptional changes of the extracellular matrix in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension governs right ventricle remodeling and recovery [ext395_rnaseq]
The present prospective study included a total number of 71 patients with a final diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), who were treated by pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) at the Kerckhoff Heart and Thorax Center between 2016 and 2020. Biopsies of the free right ventricular wall from 71 patients were collected at baseline (BL) during PEA. In a subgroup of 24 patients, myocardial interventricular septum biopsie were obtained during right heart catheterization (RHC) 12 months after PEA (postPEA) In this case, to account for technical and safety aspects, the specimens were taken from the myocardial interventricular septum. Patients were grouped in severe, intermediat and moderate risk according to 1 year mortality risk by applying a modified version of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines  risk stratification model according to their BL characteristics. The aim of the Study was: a) A comparative characterization of RNA-profiles in CTEPH patients with disease status at baseline prior to PEA therapy; b): An assessment of dynamics of the RNA-profiles in CTEPH patients pre and post PEA. Overall design: Confirmatory cohort: a): Comparison of RNA profile of CTEPH patients: severe (n=18) , intermediate (n=23), and moderate (n=30) risk groups b): 22 prePEA specimens with their corresponding postPEA specimens (postPEA vs. prePEA)