TY - JOUR T1 - Safety and efficacy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty in a Portuguese pulmonary hypertension expert center JO - Revista Portuguesa de Cardiologia (English edition) T2 - AU - Calé,Rita AU - Ferreira,Filipa AU - Pereira,Ana Rita AU - Repolho,Débora AU - Sebaiti,Daniel AU - Alegria,Sofia AU - Vitorino,Sílvia AU - Santos,Pedro AU - Pereira,Hélder AU - Brenot,Philippe AU - Loureiro,Maria José SN - 21742049 M3 - 10.1016/j.repce.2021.05.001 DO - 10.1016/j.repce.2021.05.001 UR - https://revportcardiol.org/en-safety-efficacy-balloon-pulmonary-angioplasty-articulo-S2174204921001276 AB - IntroductionBalloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is an alternative therapy in patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) or residual/recurrent pulmonary hypertension (PH) after surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the short-term efficacy and safety of a BPA program. MethodsThis prospective single-center study included all BPA sessions performed in CTEPH patients between 2017 and 2019. Clinical assessment including WHO functional class, plasma biomarkers, 6-min walk test (6MWT) and right heart catheterization was performed at baseline and six months after the last BPA session. ResultsA total of 57 BPA sessions were performed in 11 CTEPH patients (64% with inoperable disease, 82% under pulmonar vasodilator therapy). Nine patients completed both the BPA program and a minimum six-month follow-up period. There were significant improvements in WHO functional class (p=0.004) and 6MWT (mean increase of 42 m; p=0.050) and a trend for significant hemodynamic improvement: 25% decrease in mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) (p=0.082) and 42% decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (p=0.056). In the group of patients with severely impaired hemodynamics (three patients with mPAP >40 mmHg), the reduction was significant: 51% in mPAP (p=0.013) and 67% in PVR (p=0.050). Prostacyclin analogs and long-term oxygen therapy were withdrawn in all patients. Minor complications were recorded in 25% of patients. There were no major complications or deaths. ConclusionsA BPA strategy on top of pulmonary vasodilator therapy further improves symptoms, exercise capacity and hemodynamics with an acceptable risk-benefit ratio in patients with inoperable CTEPH or residual/recurrent PH after surgery. ER -