Early Detection of CTEPH in Patients After APE

The project is a national, prospective, multicenter, observational pilot project of screening CTEPH in pacients after APE in the Czech Republic.

The global goal of the project is to develop, test and implement a uniform procedure for early detection of patients with CTEPH and to set up a process for their rapid referral to a specialized center that treats chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. The timeliness of the treatment set up has a significant impact on patient's future quality of life and eliminates the risk of subsequent complications or death.

The main objective of this activity is to validate the CTEPH screening process, which will benefit 500 patients in approximately 10 selected centres. Subsequently, patient flow from the cardiologist to a specialised pulmonary hypertension treatment centre will be ensured. The process will include a review and evaluation of the screening algorithm in patients in the pilot.

The project is supported by the European Social Fund (Operational Program Employment plus) and the state budget of the Czech Republic and is registered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic under ID: CZ.03.02.02/00/22_005/0002007

Inclusion criteria

• Age over 18 years
• Signed consent to participate in the project and GDPR
• Patients with an episode of acute pulmonary embolism in the last 3-12 months, with ongoing anticoagulation therapy:

• Patients with new-onset and ongoing or progressive dyspnea (min. NYHA II) after a pulmonary embolism episode or worsening of dyspnea after a pulmonary embolism episode compared to the status before the episode (at least 1 HYHA grade) or
• Asymptomatic patients after a pulmonary embolism episode and at least one of the following risk factors:
• ECHO evidence of severe PH at diagnosis of PE (PASP >60 mmHg)
• Antiphospholipid syndrome with triple positivity (presence of lupus anticoagulans + anti-beta-2-glycoprotein I (B2GPI) antibodies + anticardiolipin)
• Infected permanent venous inlets and cardiac pacing/defibrillation intravascular systems
• Presence of ventriculoatrial shunt for treatment of hydrocephalus
• Nonspecific intestinal inflammation (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease)
• History of splenectomy
• Myeloproliferative disorders
• Chronic osteomyelitis

Exclusion criteria

• Not agreeing to participate in the project
• Contraindications to treatment