Lung cavities in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

OBJECTIVES: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a unique form of pulmonary hypertension (PH) that arises from obstruction of the pulmonary vessels by recanalized thromboembolic material. CTEPH has a wide range of radiologic presentations. Commonly, it presents as main pulmonary artery enlargement, peripheral vascular obstructions, bronchial artery dilations, and mosaic attenuation patterns. Nevertheless, other uncommon presentations have been described, such as lung cavities. These lesions may be solely related to chronic lung parenchyma ischemia but may also be a consequence of concomitant chronic infectious conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the different etiologies that cause lung cavities in CTEPH patients. METHODS: A retrospective data analysis of the medical records of CTEPH patients in a single reference PH center that contained or mentioned lung cavities was conducted between 2013 and 2016. RESULTS: Seven CTEPH patients with lung cavities were identified. The cavities had different sizes, locations, and wall thicknesses. In two patients, the cavities were attributed to pulmonary infarction; in 5 patients, an infectious etiology was identified. CONCLUSION: Despite the possibility of being solely associated with chronic lung parenchyma ischemia, most cases of lung cavities in CTEPH patients were associated with chronic granulomatous diseases, reinforcing the need for active investigation of infectious agents in this setting.

Brazilian Thoracic Society recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension / Recomendações para o diagnóstico e tratamento da hipertensão pulmonar tromboembólica crônica da Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia

ABSTRACT Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a serious and debilitating disease caused by occlusion of the pulmonary arterial bed by hematic emboli and by the resulting fibrous material. Such occlusion increases vascular resistance and, consequently, the pressure in the region of the pulmonary artery, which is the definition of pulmonary hypertension. The increased load imposed on the right ventricle leads to its progressive dysfunction and, finally, to death. However, CTEPH has a highly significant feature that distinguishes it from other forms of pulmonary hypertension: the fact that it can be cured through treatment with pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. Therefore, the primary objective of the management of CTEPH should be the assessment of patient fitness for surgery at a referral center, given that not all patients are good candidates. For the patients who are not good candidates for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, the viable therapeutic alternatives include pulmonary artery angioplasty and pharmacological treatment. In these recommendations, the pathophysiological bases for the onset of CTEPH, such as acute pulmonary embolism and the clinical condition of the patient, will be discussed, as will the diagnostic algorithm to be followed and the therapeutic alternatives currently available.

RESUMO A hipertensão pulmonar tromboembólica crônica (HPTEC) é uma doença grave e debilitante, causada pela oclusão do leito arterial pulmonar por êmbolos hemáticos e por material fibroso induzido pela presença desses êmbolos. Essa oclusão eleva a resistência vascular e, por consequência, a pressão do território arterial pulmonar, caracterizando a presença de hipertensão pulmonar. Esse aumento da carga imposta ao ventrículo direito leva a progressiva insuficiência do mesmo e, finalmente, ao óbito. No entanto, ao contrário das outras formas de hipertensão pulmonar, a HPTEC possui uma particularidade muito significativa: a existência de tratamento potencialmente curativo através da tromboendarterectomia pulmonar. Dessa forma, o objetivo primordial do manejo deve ser a avaliação do potencial cirúrgico do paciente em um centro de referência em HPTEC. Entretanto, nem todos os pacientes podem ser submetidos à cirurgia. Para esses pacientes outras alternativas terapêuticas viáveis são a angioplastia de artérias pulmonares e o tratamento farmacológico. Nestas recomendações, discutir-se-ão as bases fisiopatológicas para o surgimento de HPTEC, a partir da embolia pulmonar aguda, bem como o quadro clínico apresentado pelo paciente, o algoritmo diagnóstico a ser seguido e as alternativas terapêuticas disponíveis.

Pulmonary Hypertension in General Cardiology Practice / Hipertensão Pulmonar na Prática do Cardiologista

Abstract The finding of pulmonary hypertension (PH) by echocardiography is common and of concern. However, echocardiography is just a suggestive and non-diagnostic assessment of PH. When direct involvement of pulmonary circulation is suspected, invasive hemodynamic monitoring is recommended to establish the diagnosis. This assessent provides, in addition to the diagnostic confirmation, the correct identification of the vascular territory predominantly involved (arterial pulmonary or postcapillary). Treatment with specific medication for PH (phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonists and prostacyclin analogues) has been proven effective in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, but its use in patients with PH due to left heart disease can even be damaging. In this review, we discuss the diagnosis criteria, how etiological investigation should be carried out, the clinical classification and, finally, the therapeutic recommendations for PH.

Resumo O achado de hipertensão pulmonar (HP) em avaliação ecocardiográfica é frequente e preocupante. No entanto, o ecocardiograma é apenas um exame sugestivo e não diagnóstico de HP. Quando se suspeita de acometimento direto da circulação pulmonar, está indicada medida hemodinâmica invasiva para estabelecer o diagnóstico. Essa avaliação permite, além da confirmação diagnóstica, a correta identificação do território vascular predominantemente acometido (arterial pulmonar ou pós-capilar). O tratamento com as medicações específicas de HP (inibidores da fosfodiestarese 5, antagonistas do receptor de endotelina, análogos da prostaciclina e estimulador da guanilil ciclase solúvel) é comprovadamente eficaz para pacientes com hipertensão arterial pulmonar, mas seu uso em pacientes com HP decorrente de doença cardíaca de câmaras esquerdas pode até mesmo ser prejudicial. Discutiremos nesta revisão o critério diagnóstico, a maneira de proceder a investigação etiológica, a classificação clínica e, finalmente, as recomendações terapêuticas na HP.

Sobrevida em hipertensão pulmonar associada à esquistossomose mansônica / Survival in schistosomiasis associated pulmonary arterial hypertension

Introdução: A esquistossomose (Sch) é uma das doenças infecciosas crônicas mais prevalentes do mundo. Entretanto, dados a respeito de uma de suas complicações, a hipertensão arterial pulmonar (HAP), são escassos. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a história natural de pacientes com HAP-Sch comparados a pacientes com HAP idiopática (HAPI). Métodos: Análise retrospectiva dos prontuários de todos os pacientes consecutivamente diagnosticados como HAP-Sch e HAPI no Instituto do Coração, São Paulo, Brasil, entre 2004 e 2008. Nenhum dos pacientes com Sch-PAH recebeu tratamento específico para HAP enquanto todos os pacientes com HAPI receberam. Resultados: Pacientes com HAP-Sch (n=54) apresentavam hipertensão pulmonar menos grave ao diagnóstico, com menores níveis de resistência vascular pulmonar (11.3 ± 11.3 vs 16.7 ± 10.6 UI; p=0.002) e pressão média de artéria pulmonar (56.7 ± 18.7 vs. 64.6 ± 17.4 mmHg; p=0.01) e ainda maior débito cardíaco (4.62 ± 1.5 vs. 3.87 ± 1.5 L/min; p=0.009) quando comparados com os pacientes com HAPI (n=95). Nenhum dos pacientes HAP-Sch apresentou resposta positiva ao teste agudo com vasodilatador enquanto 16.2% dos pacientes com HAPI apresentaram (p=0.015). As taxas de sobrevida em 1, 2 e 3 anos foram 95.1%, 95.1%, 85.9% e 95%, 86% e 82%, para HAP-Sch e HAPI, respectivamente (p=0.49). Ambos os grupos tinham uma maior taxa de sobrevida quando comparadas àquela estimada pela equação do NIH para os pacientes com HAPI sem tratamento específico para HAP (71%, 61% e 52%, respectivamente). Conclusão: HAP-Sch tem um curso clínico mais benigno do que HAPI apesar da falta de vasorreatividade aguda na avaliação hemodinâmica inicial.

Background: Schistossomiasis (Sch) is one of the most prevalent chronic infectious diseases in the world. Nevertheless data regarding one of its most severe clinical complications, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate the natural history of Sch-PAH patients as compared to idiopathic PAH (IPAH). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed case notes of all consecutive patients diagnosed of Sch-PAH and IPAH referred to the Heart Institute in São Paulo, Brazil, between 2004 and 2008. None of the Sch-PAH received PAH specific treatment whereas all IPAH patients did. Findings: Sch-PH patients (n=54) had less severe pulmonary hypertension as evidenced by lower levels of pulmonary vascular resistance (11.3 ± 11.3 vs 16.7 ± 10.6 IU; p=0.002) and mean pulmonary artery pressure (56.7 ± 18.7 vs. 64.6 ± 17.4 mmHg; p=0.01) and higher cardiac output (4.62 ± 1.5 vs. 3.87 ± 1.5 L/min; p=0.009) at presentation than IPAH patients (n=95). None of the Sch- PAH patients demonstrated a positive response to acute vasodilator testing, whereas 16.2% of IPAH patients did (p=0.015). Survival rates at 1, 2 and 3 years were 95.1%, 95.1%, 85.9% and 95%, 86% and 82%, for Sch-PAH and IPAH, respectively (p=0.49). Both groups had a higher survival rate when compared to untreated IPAH survival as estimated by the NIH equation (71%, 61% and 52%, respectively). Conclusion: Sch-PAH has a more benign clinical course than IPAH despite a lack of demonstrable acute vasoreactivity at hemodynamic evaluation.

Pólipo traqueal / Tracheal polyp

Tumores benignos primários da traquéia são raros, sendo o mais freqüente a papilomatose benigna recorrente. Muitas vezes simulam doenças pulmonares obstrutivas, como asma e doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica, sendo os pacientes tratados como portadores de tais doenças por longo período sem apresentar melhora. Deve-se, portanto, incluí-los no diagnóstico diferencial dos quadros de obstrução da árvore traqueobrônquica. Relata-se um caso de paciente com pólipo traqueal com evolução de três anos e espirometria evidenciando padrão de obstrução intratorácica variável, que evoluiu com melhora clínica e funcional completa após ressecção por via broncoscópica.

Benign tracheal tumors are rare, recurrent papillomatosis being the most common. They often simulate obstructive pulmonary diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and patients with benign tracheal tumors often undergo long-term treatment for such diseases, without any improvement, Therefore, these tumors should be included in the differential diagnosis in patients presenting tracheobronchial tree obstruction. This report describes the case of a patient with a tracheal polyp. The patient presented symptoms for three years, and the spirometry findings suggested intrathoracic obstruction. The patient presented complete clinical and spirometric recovery after bronchoscopic resection of the tumor.