Balloon Angioplasty Aids Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

FRIDAY, April 28, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) with refined techniques can be effective for treating patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), according to a study published online April 12 in JACC: Advances.

Riyaz Bashir, M.D., from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia, and colleagues evaluated the efficacy and safety of refined BPA in the treatment of patients with CTEPH. The analysis included retrospective data on 211 BPA sessions performed on 77 patients.

The researchers found that after BPA, mean pulmonary vascular resistance improved by 26 percent, mean six-minute walk distance improved by 71.7 m, and World Health Organization functional class improved by one functional class. The investigators noted one death tied to reperfusion lung injury, and 10 sessions (4.7 percent) experienced hemoptysis complications. Improved functional and hemodynamic response was independently associated with preprocedural use of riociguat, reduced baseline physical activity compliance, and more than three BPA sessions per patient.

"With continued refinement of the procedure, we have successfully decreased bleeding rates in these patients," Bashir said in a statement. "In doing so, we are now able to show that balloon pulmonary angioplasty is not only relatively safe but also associated with key improvements in pulmonary hypertension and functional capacity."

Bashir is the co-inventor of the Bashir endovascular catheter and has equity interest in Thrombolex. Two other study authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

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