Highlights
- •The post-PE syndrome is common and affects functional capacity and quality of life.
- •Impaired thrombus resolution and right ventricular damage following acute PE are likely causative factors.
- •Treatment of the post-PE syndrome is only established for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.
- •No current treatment is known to prevent the post-PE syndrome.
Abstract
The post-Pulmonary Embolism (post-PE) syndrome is being increasingly recognized as
a long-term consequence of PE. Its most severe manifestation, chronic thromboembolic
pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), affects a small proportion of PE survivors. However,
many more with less severe post-PE syndrome have reduced quality of life and functional
capacity. The pathophysiology is incompletely understood, but involves unresolved
pulmonary artery thrombi, right ventricular damage, and abnormal gas exchange. Treatment
has only been established for CTEPH, and further studies are required to determine
how less severe forms of the post-PE syndrome should be treated and if preventive
strategies can reduce its incidence.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 16, 2017
Accepted:
June 12,
2017
Received in revised form:
June 5,
2017
Received:
March 27,
2017
Identification
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