[A retrospective study of balloon pulmonary angioplasty for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension].

Objective: To analyze the efficacy and safety of Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty (BPA) in patients with Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH). Methods: A total of 38 CTEPH patients received at least one BPA treatment between February 2017 and April 2019 were enrolled. World Health Organization functional class(WHO-FC), 6-minute walking distance(6WMD), mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), pulmonary vascular resistance(PVR), N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) and echocardiographic indicators were collected at baseline and before each BPA procedure. Results: 38 patients received 95 times of BPA [ 2 (1, 4) times per person] totally. MPAP was 50 (43, 56) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) before BPA and 41(32, 50) mmHg after at least one BPA procedure, P<0.001. MPAP decreased from 50(42, 55) to 34(28, 49) mmHg (P=0.003) in 17 cases after 3-5 BPA procedures. In 15 cases, PVR decreased from 852(583, 1 140)dyn·s·cm-5 to 496(406, 802)dyn·s·cm-5, P=0.009. Besides, there were 13 patients with WHO Function Class Ⅰ/Ⅱ before BPA, 25 patients with Ⅲ/Ⅳ class before BPA, 29 patients with Ⅰ/Ⅱ class after BPA treatment, and 9 patients with Ⅲ/Ⅳ after BPA treatment, P<0.001. 6 WMD before and after BPA increased from 360(290, 442)m to 449(376, 505)m, P=0.015. The Meyer score of lung perfusion scanning got improved, from 0.54(0.53, 0.58) to 0.50(0.44, 0.58), P<0.001. Among all registered patients, 21 of whom NT-proBNP decreased from 1 285(606, 2 794) to 472(148, 745), P=0.014. The inner diameter of the right ventricular decreased from 54(41, 54)mm before surgery to 42(34, 49)mm after surgery, P<0.001. 6(6.3%, 6/95) complications occurred in 95 times of BPA. Conclusion: For inoperable patients with CTEPH, BPA can significantly improve disease severity, 6 MWD, heart function, decrease mPAP, PVR and improve lung perfusion, which is a safe and effective therapy.