Evaluating the efficacy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty using quantitative analysis of SPECT pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) ventilation perfusion imaging is the main imaging method for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, and its application in the diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) has been paid more and more attention. In recent years, with the development of computer software technology, ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging quantitative analysis technology has become more and more mature. The objective of this study was to investigate the utility of quantitative analysis of pulmonary V/Q scintigraphy in evaluating the efficacy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) in patients with CTEPH.

A simpler noninvasive method of predicting markedly elevated pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Several echocardiographic methods to estimate pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) have been proposed. So far, most studies have focused on relatively low PVR in patients with a nonspecific type of pulmonary hypertension. We aimed to clarify the clinical usefulness of a new echocardiographic index for evaluating markedly elevated PVR in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

The accuracy and influencing factors of Doppler echocardiography in estimating pulmonary artery systolic pressure: comparison with right heart catheterization: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Background: Noninvasive assessment of pulmonary artery systolic pressure by Doppler echocardiography (sPAP) has been widely adopted to screen for pulmonary hypertension (PH), but there is still a high proportion of overestimation or underestimation of sPAP. We therefore aimed to explore the accuracy and influencing factors of sPAP with right heart catheterization (RHC) as a reference.

Methods: A total of 218 highly suspected PH patients who underwent RHC and echocardiography within 7 days were included.

Analysis of right ventricular flow with 4-dimensional flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Cardiac flow closely interact with function, however, the correlation of right ventricular (RV) flow and function remains unknown, thus our objective is to observe right ventricular flow with four-dimensional phase-contrast cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow CMR) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and to analyze flow components with RV function and hemodynamics.

Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled 30 patients with PAH (mean age: 49±13 years, 16 females) and 14 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers as controls (mean age: 44±12 years, 9 females). All patients who underwent CMR and right heart catheterization (RHC) within 1 week between January 2019 and July 2020 were included.

Regional right ventricular longitudinal systolic strain for detection of severely impaired right ventricular performance in pulmonary hypertension.

Objectives: Right ventricular (RV) function is identified as a key determinant of the outcome in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Several studies have assessed the role of peak global longitudinal RV strain in PH patients; however, less emphasis was given to the RV regional longitudinal strain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the regional RV systolic strain in PH patients and investigate the relationship of these parameters with the severity of PH.

Awareness and management of pulmonary embolism among physicians in China: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a leading cause of cardiovascular mortality. We intended to evaluate the awareness and management status of PE among Chinese physicians and provide the basis for establishing Chinese clinical guidelines on PE. We designed a nationwide survey to collect data on physicians' awareness of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up on PE.

The value of speckle-tracking echocardiography in identifying right heart dysfunction in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Right ventricular (RV) function is a significantly important factor in the determination of the prognosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) patients. Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) is an angle-independent new technique for quantifying myocardial deformation that is capable of providing data on multiple parameters including longitudinal and transverse information of the myocardium. In the present study, we aimed to study the advantages of STE-derived parameters in identifying RV dysfunction in CTEPH patients.

Serum Bilirubin and 6-min Walk Distance as Prognostic Predictors for Inoperable Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a severe clinical syndrome characterized by right cardiac failure and possibly subsequent liver dysfunction. However, whether serum markers of liver dysfunction can predict prognosis in inoperable CTEPH patients has not been determined. Our study aimed to evaluate the potential role of liver function markers (such as serum levels of transaminase, bilirubin, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase [GGT]) combined with 6-min walk test in the prediction of prognosis in patients with inoperable CTEPH.

Clinical features and imaging findings in pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis: report of two cases and a pooled analysis.

Background: Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (PCH) is a rare disease and no Chinese case has been reported yet. The disease is often misdiagnosed and its clinical characteristics are incompletely described. The aim of this study was to describe two Chinese cases and to clarify the clinical and radiographic parameters of patients with PCH.

Prevalence of deep venous thrombosis in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is always associated with a high incidence and mortality. Because of the presence of some concomitant risk factors such as immobilization, bronchial superinfection, patients who are admitted for acute exacerbations of COPD are generally considered to be at moderate risk for the development of venous thromboembolism. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and the clinical manifestations of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD.

[The acute effects of inhaled iloprost on hemodynamics and oxygenation in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension].

Objective: To evaluate the acute effects of inhaled iloprost on hemodynamics and oxygenation in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

Methods: A prospective study was made. Eighteen patients with CTEPH were enrolled.

[The oxygen kinetic effect of inhaled iloprost in pulmonary artery hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension].

Objective: To study the acute oxygen kinetic effect of inhaled iloprost in pulmonary artery hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Methods: Twenty-two and 24 patients who were admitted to our hospital between June 2006 and January 2009 with confirmed diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) respectively were enrolled to this study. During right heart catheterization, the hemodynamics and oxygen kinetics were monitored at baseline and after inhaling Iloprost (20 micrograms).

[Changes in deep venous thrombosis after thrombolytic anticoagulant therapies in acute pulmonary thromboembolism].

Objective: To analyze the treatment effect of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) with thrombolytic and anticoagulant therapy.

Methods: Post hoc analysis of data from a prospective multicenter randomized control thrombolytic and anticoagulant trial of 516 patients with acute symptomatic PTE from June 2002 to December 2004. Thrombolytic therapy was performed in patients with massive and sub-massive PTE and anticoagulant therapy was given in patients with non-massive PTE.