A b s t r a c t Background and aim:To assess the safety and efficacy of a refined balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) strategy in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).Methods: There were 157 BPA sessions performed in 56 CTEPH patients (47 non-operable, nine after pulmonary endarterectomy; aged 58.6 ± 17.9 years; 28 females) with severely impaired pulmonary haemodynamics (mean pulmonary artery pressure [mPAP]: 51.3 ± 12.2 mm Hg, pulmonary vascular resistance [PVR]: 10.1 ± 3.9 Wood Units). The first 50 sessions aimed to recanalise chronic occlusions and prevent reocclusion with aggressive anticoagulation. The next 107 sessions aimed to relieve "web" and "ring" lesions using reduced tip load guidewires and less intensive anticoagulation.Results: There was significant reduction in haemoptysis (22% vs. 7%, p = 0.01), vessel injury (30% vs. 13%, p = 0.01), and reperfusion pulmonary injuries (22% vs. 4%, p = 0.01) after changing the BPA strategy. Mortality at 14 days was also reduced (6% vs. 0%; p = 0.05). The cumulative survival rate was 94.6% at 24 months after the first BPA, which was more favourable than medically treated historic controls. In the 31 patients with > 3 BPA sessions, there was significant reduction of PVR (10.3 ± 3.7 vs. 5.9 ± 2.8 Wood Units; p = 0.01), mPAP (50.7 ± 10.8 vs. 35.6 ± 9.3 mm Hg; p = 0.01) and improvement in World Health Organisation functional class (3.19 ± 0.48 vs. 1.97 ± 0.80; p < 0.001).Conclusions: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty improves haemodynamics and outcome but requires refined strategy to limit early complication rate.

Outcomes of COVID-19 in patients vaccinated and unvaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 and suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

INTRODUCTION Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is a treatment option for a patient with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate the evolution of electrocardiographic (ECG) markers of right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) after BPA. PATIENTS AND METHODS Standard 12-lead ECG was performed in 41 patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension before the first BPA and after completion of treatment. RESULTS In the whole study group, the percentage change in the pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) after BPA correlated with the percentage change in the values of the following ECG parameters (P <0.05): axis of the QRS (rho = 0.530) and T wave (rho = 0.372); P wave in leads II (rho = 0.340) and III (rho = 0.430); S wave in lead V 5 (rho = 0.634); R/S ratio in lead V 5 (rho =-0.636); S wave in lead V 6 (rho = 0.508); S wave in lead I (rho = 0.496). Then, the group was divided into 2 subgroups: group A, defined as a drop in PVR greater than the median value (49%) for the whole study population; and group B, defined as a drop in PVR below the median value. In group A, the following parameters changed after BPA: T-wave axis (P <0.001), P wave in lead II (P <0.001), S wave in lead V 5 (P <0.001), R/S ratio in lead V 5 (P <0.001). In group B, despite some hemodynamic and functional improvement, there were no differences in ECG markers of RVH after BPA. CONCLUSIONS An improvement in RVH parameters can be observed on ECG after a hemodynamically effective BPA.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess soluble ST2 (sST2) concentration and its dynamic changes in the periprocedural period in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) treated with balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA). Methods: We prospectively analyzed 57 procedures of BPA performed in 37 patients with CTEPH. Biomarkers, such as N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), troponin T (TnT), and sST2 were assessed at four time points: Before the BPA procedure, 24 h and 48 h after the procedure, and at the discharge from hospital. Each postprocedural period was assessed for complications. Results: Before the BPA procedure, median sST2 concentration was 26.56 ng/mL (IQR: 16.66–40.83 ng/mL). sST2 concentration was significantly higher 24 h and 48 h after the BPA compared to the baseline measurements (33.31 ng/mL (IQR: 20.81–62.56), p = 0.000 and 27.45 ng/mL (IQR: 17.66–54.45), p = 0.028, respectively). sST2 level 24 h after the BPA procedure was significantly higher in the group with complications compared to the group without complications in the postprocedural period (97.66 ng/mL (IQR: 53.07–126.18) vs. 26.86 ng/mL (IQR: 19.10–40.12), p = 0.000). Conclusions: sST2 concentration in patients with CTEPH treated with BPA changes significantly in the postprocedural period and is significantly higher in the group with complications in postprocedural period.

Background The remodeling of the right heart in patients with chronic pulmonary hypertension (cPH) is associated with the appearance of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities. We investigated the resolution of ECG markers of right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) caused by acute and long‐term hemodynamic improvement. Methods Twenty‐nine (29) patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and seven patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were included in the analysis. Patients with CTEPH achieved a significant long‐term hemodynamic improvement following the treatment with balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA); all the patients with PAH reported significant acute hemodynamic relief after a single inhalation of iloprost, fulfilling the criteria of responder. Standard 12‐lead ECG was performed before and after intervention. Results The interval between baseline and control ECG in CTEPH and PAH groups was 28 (IQR: 17–36) months and 15 min (IQR: 11–17), respectively. Despite similar hemodynamic improvement in both groups, only the CTEPH group presented significant changes in most analyzed ECG parameters: T‐wave axis (p = .002), QRS‐wave axis (p = .012), P‐wave amplitude (p < .001) and duration in II (p = .049), R‐wave amplitude in V1 (p = .017), R:S ratio in V1 (p = .046), S‐wave amplitude in V5 (p = .004), R‐wave amplitude in V5 (p = .044), R:S ratio in V5 (p = .004), S‐wave amplitude in V6 (p = .026), R‐wave amplitude in V6 (p = .01), and R‐wave amplitude in aVR (p = .031). In patients with PAH, significant differences were found only for P wave in II (duration: p = .035; amplitude: p = .043) and QRS axis (p = .018). Conclusions The effective treatment of cPH ensures improvement in ECG parameters of RVH, but it requires extended time.