Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment — current state of the problem

Abstract

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is group IV of pulmonary hypertension, which develops with occlusive-stenotic lesions of the pulmonary artery after a pulmonary embolism. There are no clear data on the epidemiology of this disease. At the same time, it is obvious that it is much more widespread than is commonly believed. This is due to the nonspecific clinical picture and the lack of awareness of clinicians about this disease. On the one hand, the pathogenesis of CTEPH is well studied and in many respects similar to pulmonary arterial hypertension, on the other hand, it is not clear why blood clots do not dissolve in a certain percentage of patients. Diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is fairly well described and should be carried out according to a special algorithm. The treatment of choice is pulmonary endarterectomy. In inoperable patients and patients with residual pulmonary hypertension after surgery, it is possible to perform balloon angioplasty of the pulmonary artery and PAH-specific therapy. In our study, the safety and efficacy of a new method for the treatment of a residual form of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, radiofrequency denervation of the pulmonary artery, has been proven. The pathogenetic basis of this technique is the desympathization of the pulmonary circulation by radiofrequency destruction of the autonomic ganglia of the bifurcation of the pulmonary artery and the interruption of the so-called pulmo-pulmonary reflex.