Long‐term effects of acute pulmonary embolism on echocardiographic doppler indices and functional capacity

• Published in: Clinical cardiology (Mahwah, N.J.) Vol. 27; no. 12; pp. 693 - 697
• Main Authors: Ciurzyński, M., Kurzyna, M., Bochowicz, A., Lichodziejewska, B., Liszewska‐Pfejfer, D., Pruszczyk, P., Torbicki, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Periodicals, Inc 01.12.2004; Wiley
• Subjects: 6‐minute walking test; Acute Disease; acute pulmonary embolism; Aged; Anticoagulants - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure - physiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Clinical Investigation; Clinical Investigations; Disease Progression; echocardiography; Echocardiography, Doppler; Exercise Test; Female; Fibrinolytic Agents - therapeutic use; Follow-Up Studies; Heparin - therapeutic use; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pneumology; Pulmonary Artery - diagnostic imaging; Pulmonary Artery - physiopathology; Pulmonary Embolism - diagnostic imaging; Pulmonary Embolism - drug therapy; Pulmonary Embolism - physiopathology; Pulmonary hypertension. Acute cor pulmonale. Pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary vascular diseases; Retrospective Studies; right ventricular dysfunction; Streptokinase - therapeutic use; Time Factors; Tricuspid Valve - diagnostic imaging; Tricuspid Valve - physiopathology; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right - diagnostic imaging; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right - etiology; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right - physiopathology; Ventricular Pressure - physiology; Sonography; Doppler ultrasound study; Echocardiography; Respiratory disease; Acute; Cardiovascular disease; 6-minute walking test; acute pulmonary embolism; Long term; Functional capacity; Vascular disease; Pulmonary embolism; right ventricular dysfunction
• ISSN: 0160-9289; 1932-8737
• DOI: 10.1002/clc.4960271207

Background and hypothesis:Hemodynamic and functional consequences of acute pulmonary embolism (APE) are believed to be reversible with antithrombotic treatment. To verify this hypothesis, we reassessed our patients at least 1 year after an episode of APE. Methods:We compared echo Doppler indices and 6‐min walking test parameters (6‐MWT) of 36 patients (13 men, 23 women, age 66 ± 11 years), studied on average 3.1 ± 2.2 years after an acute episode of pharmacologically treated massive or submassive APE, with data of 30 age‐matched subjects (12 men, 18 women, age 67 ± 12 years). Results:At least 1 year after APE, right ventricular (RV) diameter remained increased in patients compared with controls (27 ± 2 vs. 23 ± 2 mm, p < 0.001). Also, acceleration time of pulmonary ejection (AcT) was markedly shorter (97 ± 19 vs. 123 ± 19 ms, p < 0.001) and the diameter of the pulmonary trunk was significantly larger in patients than in controls (21 ± 2.6 vs. 18 ± 2.2, p < 0.001). Although the mean value of the tri‐cuspid valve peak systolic gradient (TVPG) in the APE group at follow‐up was similar to that in controls, TVPG > 30 mmHg was recorded in three patients with APE (8.3%). There was no difference in the distance of 6‐MWT between both groups; however, the mean desaturation after 6‐MWT was higher in the APE group than in controls (3.04 ± 2.08 vs. 1.45 ± 0.69%, p = 0.0005). Conclusions:Pharmacologic treatment of acute pulmonary embolism does not prevent mild persistent changes in morphology and function of the cardiovascular system. Despite normalization of pulmonary artery systolic pressure and similar exercise capacity, survivors of APE present signs suggesting RV dysfunction and/or its disturbed coupling to the pulmonary arterial bed, as well as ventilation to perfusion mismatch at exertion persisting long after the acute embolic episode.