Severity Of Acute Pulmonary Embolism Research Articles

Complement activation is associated with right ventricular dysfunction and the severity of pulmonary embolism: links with prothrombotic state.

Little is known about the role of complement activation in acute pulmonary embolism (PE). We investigated whether complement activation is associated with the severity of acute PE, along with the associated prothrombotic state, systemic inflammation and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation. We studied 109 normotensive, non-cancer PE patients (aged 58.1±15.0 years). On admission prior to initiation of anticoagulation, plasma soluble complement components, i.e., C3a and sC5b-9, were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), along with thrombin generation, fibrinolysis proteins (plasminogen, antiplasmin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1), factor VIII (FVIII) activity, and fibrin clot properties, including clot permeability (Ks, a measure of clot density) and clot lysis time (CLT). Moreover, we determined inflammatory markers and citrullinated histone H3, a specific marker of NETs formation. Patients in the lower tertile of C3a (≤1.45 ng/mL, n=37) had lower simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI) values and were less likely to have right ventricular (RV) dysfunction compared to the remaining subjects. The former subgroup also had 13% lower FVIII activity, but not fibrinogen, interleukin-6, fibrinolysis proteins, and thrombin generation. Plasma C3a levels correlated inversely with Ks and positively with CLT indicating formation of denser and poorly lysable clots in subjects with elevated C3a. Despite a positive association between C3a and sC5b-9, the latter parameter was solely associated with higher FVIII, but not with other variables. We showed that in acute PE enhanced complement activation characterizes patients with poorer short-term prognosis who display prothrombotic fibrin clot properties and elevated FVIII, which supports the involvement of complement proteins in acute thromboembolism.

A Saddle Pulmonary Embolism at Transthoracic Echocardiography: A Case Report

Acute Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening disease and is considered the third major cause of cardiovascular death with higher incidence and mortality rates. Identifying a saddle PE between the left and the right pulmonary trunk in transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is rare, and helps to make a rapid diagnosis to avoid complications. Clinical presentation, electrocardiogram, and X-ray guide the diagnosis but are not specific. TTE is helpful and confirms the diagnosis especially when the CT is not available or in other situations when it is not realizable. Visualizing a pulmonary artery thrombus in TTE is unusual. It can be identified in the right cardiac chambers in less than 5% of patients with PE. The severity of acute PE is determined by its hemodynamics, the sudden pulmonary hypertension, and the development of obstructive shock. Anticoagulation therapy is the cornerstone of PE management and should be initiated as soon as possible.

The Vulnerable Elders Survey-13 scale is superior to the simplified Pulmonary Embolism Score Index in predicting 3-month postdischarge mortality in elderly survivors of acute pulmonary embolism.

Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is the most serious manifestation of venous thromboembolism. The simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI) is employed for prediction of 30-day mortality in APE. The Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13) is used to identify participants at a risk of health impairment. We aimed to compare the VES-13 and sPESI scales for prediction of 3-month mortality inelderly patients hospitalized for APE. All patients with APE were managed according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines and followed up for at least 3 months after discharge. Clinical evaluation of all patients involved the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and biochemical tests. The patients with VES-13 score equal to or above 3 (VES-13≥3) were evaluated with comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). A total of 164 patients met the inclusion criteria. There were significantly fewer men in the VES-13≥3 than the VES-13<3 group (34% vs 54.5%; P <0.01). The patients in the VES-13≥3 group had lower median (interquartile range [IQR]) body mass index and higher sPESI score than those in the VES-13<3 group (25.6 [21.8-28.4] kg/m2 vs 28 [25.3-31] kg/m2; P = 0.001 and 2 [1-2] points vs 1 [0-1] point; P <0.001, respectively). There were no differences in APE severity according to the ESC stratification and CCI. Logistic regression analysis identified the VES-13 score as a significant independent risk factor for 3-month mortality. The VES-13 score is a better tool than sPESI for predicting 3-month mortality. Geriatric survivors of APE characterized with VES-13≥3 points should be closely monitored after discharge. The Norton Scale Score in a combination with the VES-13 may be useful in predicting 3-month mortality among numerous tests used in the CGA.

Alterations and Significance of Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography-Derived Parameters in Older Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

This study aimed to investigate changes of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA)-derived parameters in older adults with acute pulmonary embolism (APE). According to the pulmonary artery obstruction index (PAOI), patients with APE were divided into the A1 (PAOI ≥30%, n = 57) and A2 (PAOI <30%, n = 40) groups. Participants without APE were placed in group B (n = 170). The left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) parameters among the three groups were compared, and the parameter changes in the 44 patients with APE were analyzed before and after treatment. The correlation between APE severity and the parameters was analyzed using correlation analysis. The left-to-right diameters (LR) of LA, and LR × anteroposterior diameters (AP) of LA and LV: A1 < A2 < B; LR of LV: A1 < A2, B; AP of LA and LV: A1, A2 < B. After treatment, LR and LR × AP of the LA and LV were significantly increased in the group A1 and LR of the LV and LR × AP of the LA and LV were elevated in the group A2. Acute pulmonary embolism severity was closely associated with LR × AP ( r = -0.557) and LR ( r = -0.477) of LA. With an increase in the degree of obstruction, older adults had a smaller LA and LV. Furthermore, the LR and LR × AP values of the LA were significantly decreased. These results contribute to in-time risk stratification.

Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Disease Severity and Adverse Outcomes in Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) poses a life-threatening risk with high mortality rates. While the coexistence of PE and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is gaining recognition, its influence on PE severity and prognosis remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the associations between OSA and disease severity, as well as outcomes, in patients with acute PE. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on patients diagnosed with acute PE who had undergone previous cardiorespiratory polygraphy. OSA severity was assessed using the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) derived from cardiorespiratory polygraphy. The severity of acute PE was evaluated using the simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI) score. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the associations between AHI and the risk of belonging to the sPESI≥1 group. Cox regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between AHI and long-term adverse events, defined as a composite of all-cause mortality and non-fatal cardiovascular events. Among 145 acute PE patients (mean age 62.2 years, 49.7% male), 94 (64.8%) had OSA. Patients with OSA had a significantly higher proportion of sPESI≥1 (89.4% vs 68.6%, p=0.002) than non-OSA patients. Each unit increase in AHI was associated with a 15% increased risk of severe PE (sPESI≥1) (odds ratio: 1.15, 95% CI 1.05-1.26, p=0.002) after adjusting for confounders. During a median follow-up of 15.2 months, 27 (18.6%) patients experienced adverse events. Increased AHI independently predicted a higher risk of adverse events (hazard ratio: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00-1.05, p=0.026), even after adjusting for potential confounders. AHI ≥8 events/h was associated with a significantly higher adjusted hazard ratio of 2.56 (95% CI: 1.15-5.72, p=0.022) for adverse events compared to AHI <8 events. OSA is common in acute PE patients and is linked to increased disease severity and adverse outcomes. Implementing routine OSA screening and management may aid risk stratification and improve outcomes in acute PE patients.

Frontal QRS - T angle is associated with severity and prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism.

The pathological effects of acute pulmonary embolism (APE) on the right ventricle are one of the most important determinants of mortality in patients with APE. Frontal QRS-T angle (fQRSTa) predicts ventricular pathology and poor prognosis in many different cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we investigated whether there is a significant relationship between fQRSTa and APE severity. A total of 309 patients were included in this retrospective study. The severity of APE was classified as massive (high risk), submassive (intermediate risk), or nonmassive (low risk). fQRSTa calculated from standard ECGs. fQRSTa was significantly higher in massive APE patients (p<0.001). fQRSTa was also found to be significantly higher in the in-hospital mortality group (p<0.001). fQRSTa was an independent risk factor for the development of massive APE (odds ratio:1.033; 95% CI: 1.012-1.052; p<0.001). Our study showed that increased fQRSTa predicts high-risk APE patients and mortality in APE patients.

Novel marker for predicting the severity and prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism: platelet-to-hemoglobin ratio.

Background: We investigated the ability of the platelet-to-hemoglobin ratio (PHR) to predict mortality and disease severity in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Materials & methods: The severity of APE was classified as massive (high risk), submassive (intermediate risk) or nonmassive (low risk). PHR is defined as platelet count/hemoglobin count. Results: PHR was significantly higher in patients with massive APE, and this elevation showed a gradual increase from the nonmassive group to the massive group (p<0.001). In-hospital and 1-month mortality were higher in patients with high PHR values. PHR was an independent risk factor for the development of massive APE (odds ratio: 1.014; 95% CI: 1.011-1.017; p=0.009). Conclusion: PHR values predicted massive APE and were an independent predictor of mortality in APE.

Use of the PaO2/FiO2 Ratio in Pulmonary Embolism: Evaluation of its Correlation with Pulmonary Arterial Computed Tomography Obstruction Index

The pulmonary arterial computed tomography obstruction index ratio (PACTOIR) is a parameter that provides an idea of the clinical severity of acute pulmonary embolism (APE). This study aimed to examine the correlation between the PaO₂ /FiO₂ ratio and PACTOIR in patients who presented to the emergency department and received a preliminary diagnosis of APE. This study was conducted prospectively in the emergency department. The patients' sociodemographic characteristics, vital signs, PACTOIR, and PaO₂ /FiO₂ ratio were obtained. The correlation between PACTOIR and PaO₂ /FiO₂ ratio was then statistically evaluated. The study included 50 patients, of whom 31 (62%) were women, and 19(38%) were men. The female patients had a PaO₂ /FiO₂ ratio of 209 ± 67 and PACTOIR of 36.3 ± 15.5. The male patients had a PaO₂ /FiO₂ ratio of 169 ± 43 and PACTOIR of 39.7 ± 19. The PaO₂ /FiO₂ ratio of the patients with APE was negatively correlated with the PACTOIR value at a statistically significant level (r=-0.308, p=0.031). The regression equation was as follows: PACTOIR=(-0.0869) x (PaO₂ / FiO₂)+(54.489). By calculating the PaO₂ /FiO₂ ratio in patients with APE, the degree of pulmonary artery obstruction and clinical severity can be predicted. Therefore, the ratio PaO₂ /FiO₂ can be used instead of PACTOIR.

Decreased pulmonary artery distensibility as a marker for severity in acute pulmonary embolism patients undergoing ECG-gated CTPA.

To investigate the characteristics of pulmonary artery distensibility(PAD) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) and to assess whether a relationship exists between PAD and the disease severity. Clinical and radiological data of 30 APE patients who underwent retrospective electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) with a definite diagnosis of APE were retrospectively reviewed in the present study, including 15 subjects in severe (SPE) group and 15 subjects in non-severe (NSPE) group. PAD and cardiac function parameters were compared between the two groups, their relationships were investigated, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the above parameters for the diagnosis of APE severity. The PAD decreased in the following order: NSPE group (6.065 ± 2.114) × 10-3 (%/mmHg), and SPE group (4.334 ± 1.777) × 10-3 (%/mmHg) (P < 0.05). All the cardiac function parameters except RA/LAdiameter showed statistically significant different values between the two groups (P < 0.05). As APE severity increased, the cardiac morphological measurements of RV/LVdiameter, RV/LVarea, RVEDV/LVEDV and RVESV/LVESV increased. There was a weak to moderate negative correlation between PAD and PAmax, PAmin, PA/AAmin, PA/AAmax, RV/LVdiameter, RV/LVarea (r = -0.393 to -0.625), that is, PAD was inversely correlated with cardiac function parameters. There was a moderate negative correlation between PAD and hemoptysis(r = -0.672). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of PAD was 0.724, the critical value was 4.137 × 10-3 mm/Hg, and the sensitivity and specificity were 60.0% and 93.3%, respectively. PAmin showed the strongest discriminatory power to identify high-risk patients (AUC = 0.827), with the highest sensitivity of 100%, which was also achieved by RA/LAarea. The PAD obtained by retrospective ECG-gated CTPA could be an indicator to be used in the evaluation of the presence and severity of APE.

Acute Pulmonary Embolism Severity Assessment Evaluated with Dual Energy CT Perfusion Compared to Conventional CT Angiographic Measurements

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether Dual Energy CT (DECT) can be used as a diagnostic tool to assess the severity of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) by correlating parenchymal perfusion defect volume, obstruction score and right ventricular-to-left ventricular (RV/LV) diameter ratio using CT angiography (CTA) and DECT perfusion imaging. A total of 43 patients who underwent CTA and DECT perfusion imaging with clinical suspicion of acute PE were retrospectively included in the study. In total, 25 of these patients had acute PE findings on CTA. DECT assessed perfusion defect volume (PDvol) were automatically and semiautomatically quantified. Overall, two CTA methods for risk assessment in patients with acute PE were assessed: the RV/LV diameter ratio and the Modified Miller obstruction score. Automatic PDvol had a weak correlation (r = 0.47, p = 0.02) and semiautomatic PDvol (r = 0.68, p < 0.001) had a moderate correlation to obstruction score in patients with confirmed acute PE, while only semiautomatic PDvol (r = 0.43, p = 0.03) had a weak correlation with the RV/LV diameter ratio. Our data indicate that PDvol assessed by DECT software technique may be a helpful tool to assess the severity of acute PE when compared to obstruction score and RV/LV diameter ratio.

CTPA pulmonary artery distensibility in assessment of severity of acute pulmonary embolism and right ventricular function.

To investigate the characteristics of pulmonary artery distensibility (PAD) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) and to assess the correlation of PAD with APE severity and right ventricular function. A total of 33 patients who underwent retrospective electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) with a definite diagnosis of APE were included in the study. According to APE severity, the patients were divided into severe (SPE) and non-severe (NSPE) groups. Data from a control group without APE matching the basic demographics of the APE patients were collected. Pulmonary artery distensibility (PAD) and right ventricular function parameters were compared among the 3 groups, their relationships were investigated, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the above parameters for the diagnosis of APE severity. The PAD values of the control, NSPE, and SPE groups were (7.877 ± 2.637) × 10−3 mm/Hg, (6.050 ± 2.011) × 10−3 mm/Hg, (4.321 ± 1.717) × 10−3 mm/Hg, respectively (P < .01). There were statistically significant differences in right ventricular function parameters among the 3 groups (P < .05). The correlation analysis between PAD and right ventricular function parameters showed a weak negative correlation (r = −0.281–−0.392). The area under the ROC curve of PAD was 0.743, the critical value was 4.200, and the sensitivity and specificity were 62.5% and 94.1%, respectively. The PAD obtained by retrospective ECG-gated CTPA could accurately evaluate APE severity and right ventricular function. As the severity of APE increases, PAD decreases, which is helpful to identify patients at high risk of APE.

A novel marker for predicting severity of acute pulmonary embolism: systemic immune-inflammation index

Background Systemic pro-coagulatory and pro-inflammatory factors are critical factors in acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Recently the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) has emerged as a new inflammatory and prognostic marker. We aimed to determine whether there is a relationship between SII and the severity of the APE. Methods. A total of 442 patients with APE, 202 women (45.7%) with an average age of 64 ± 16, were included in this retrospective observational study. APE severity was classified as massive (high risk), submassive (intermediate risk), and nonmassive (low risk). On admission, blood samples were collected for SII and other laboratory measurements. The SII was defined as platelet × neutrophil/lymphocyte counts. Results. SII levels were higher in patients with massive APE and gradually increased from nonmassive to massive APE (p < .001). SII was also significantly higher in patients with in-hospital death. Multivariable analysis showed that SII was an independent predictor for massive APE (Odds ratio 1.005 (95% CI 1.002–1.007), p < .001), together with C-reactive protein and cardiac troponin. In the receiver operating characteristic curve, the optimal cutoff value of SII to predict a massive APE was 1161, with 91% sensitivity and 90% specificity (area under the curve: 0.957). Conclusion. Our findings support an association between a higher SII level and a massive APE. As a simple biomarker, SII is an independent predictor of more severe disease in patients with APE. SII is a more powerful tool than traditional inflammatory markers for predicting the severity of disease in these patients

Prothrombotic fibrin clot properties associated with NETs formation characterize acute pulmonary embolism patients with higher mortality risk

Venous thromboembolism is associated with formation of denser fibrin clots resistant to lysis. We investigated whether prothrombotic plasma clot properties are associated with the severity of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). We enrolled 126 normotensive acute PE patients (aged 58 ± 14 years) and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Plasma fibrin clot permeability (Ks), clot lysis time (CLT), endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and citrullinated histone H3 (citH3) were evaluated on admission. PE patients compared to controls had 370% higher citH3 levels, 41% higher ETP, 16.5% reduced Ks, and 25.6% prolonged CLT. Patients with intermediate-high (n = 29) and intermediate-low (n = 77) PE mortality risk had reduced Ks and prolonged CLT, increased PAI-1 and ETP as compared to low-risk PE (n = 20) patients. Prolonged CLT was predicted by PAI-1 and citH3, while low Ks by C-reactive protein. During a 12-month follow-up 9 (7.1%) patients who had 24% higher ETP, 45% higher citH3 levels, and 18% prolonged CLT at baseline died. High ETP combined with elevated citH3 levels and prolonged CLT was associated with eightfold increased risk of PE-related death. Prothrombotic fibrin clot properties and enhanced neutrophil extracellular traps formation are associated with higher early mortality risk in acute PE patients, which suggests a prognostic role of these biomarkers.

Association of Serum Albumin and Severity of Pulmonary Embolism

Background and Objectives: Inflammation is considered a risk factor for venous thromboembolism. The association between inflammatory markers and the severity of acute pulmonary embolism (APE) has not been explored. Methods: We studied the association between two crude markers of inflammation, serum albumin, and red cell distribution width (RDW) and massive versus non-massive APE. Results: Among 552 consecutive cases of CT-angiogram-confirmed APE, a total of 46 cases (8.3%) had massive APE. Despite similar demographics and comorbidities, patients with massive APE had higher frequency of acute kidney injury (P = 0.005), higher lactic acid (P = 0.011), higher troponin (P = 0.001), higher BNP (P < 0.001), higher frequency of RV dilation (P = 0.017) and hypokinesis (P = 0.003), and higher in-hospital mortality (15.2% vs. 2%, P < 0.001). Patients with massive APE had significantly lower albumin level (median (IQR): 2.8 (2.2, 3.0) vs. 3.2 (2.8, 3.6) gm/dL, P < 0.001) and higher RDW (median (IQR): 14.7 (13.8, 17.1) vs. 14.2 (13.3, 15.6), P = 0.006) compared with non-massive APE. ROC curves showed that albumin and RDW had an AUC of 0.750 (P < 0.001) and 0.621 (P = 0.006) in predicting a massive APE, respectively. The optimal cutoff values for albumin and RDW that had the highest combined sensitivity and specificity for predicting APE was ≤3 gm/dL and >14, for albumin and RDW, respectively. Restricted cubic splines showed a significant association between albumin (P = 0.0002) and RDW (P = 0.0446) and the occurrence of massive APE. After adjustment for patients’ age, body mass index, white blood cell count, the requirement of antibiotics during hospitalization, diabetes, RDW, and peak creatinine, serum albumin was independently associated with massive APE (OR 0.234, 95% CI 0.129–0.4242, P < 0.001). Conclusion: low serum albumin is associated with massive APE. This association is likely a proxy for higher inflammatory state in massive compared with non-massive APE.

P304 The importance of echocardiographic pulmonary flow notch ratio in the assessment of patients with acute pulmonary embolism

Abstract Background There are several echocardiographic features such as right ventricle dilatation, interventricular septum flattening, McConnel sign and 60/60 sign reflecting the extent and severity of acute pulmonary embolism (APE). In quite a large number of APE patients we can observe a pulmonary flow (PF) profile abnormality in the form of a mid-systolic notch (MSN). Purpose To assess the profile of pulmonary Doppler flow in consecutive patients with acute pulmonary embolism and to establish its clinical utility. Methods We reviewed pulmonary Doppler flow profiles from 127 consecutive patients (m. age 64 years,72 F) with symptomatic APE managed in our department. APE was confirmed by contrast-enhanced multi detector computed tomography when thromboemboli were visualized at least in segmental pulmonary arteries. Individuals with preexisting pulmonary arterial hypertension were excluded. The pulmonary flow notch ratio (PNR) defined as the time from onset of PF until mid-systolic notch divided by the time from notch to the end of pulmonary ejection was evaluated. The comparison of patients with PNR &amp;lt; 1 (Group 1) and PNR &amp;gt; 1 (Group 2) was performed. Results We found the MSN in 50 patients (39.4%). Seventy seven patients had a normal shape of Doppler PF envelope. The presence of MSN was associated with more pronounced echocardiographic signs of right ventricle overload (RVOT diameter 32.4± 5.2 vs 29.1 ±3.3 mm, p &amp;lt; 0.001; TRPG 42.3 ± 14.4 vs 24.8 ±9.5 mmHg, p &amp;lt; 0.0001; RVSP 49.4 ±14.9 vs 31.2 ±10.6 mmHg, p &amp;lt; 0.0001; TAPSE 20.3± 4.1 vs 23.4 ±4.0 mm, p &amp;lt; 0.001; PF Acceleration Time 64.5 ±13.7 vs 109.8 ±24.6 ms, p &amp;lt; 0.001, and a presence of septal flattening). Obviously, patients with MSN presented more proximal location of thrombi in comparison to those with symmetrical shape of PF envelope (in MPA 18% vs 5.2%, p = 0.038 and in both LPA + RPA 22% vs 9%, p = 0.08, respectively). The PNR &amp;lt; 1 was found in 35 (70%) of 50 patients with MSN (Group 1). In these patients thrombi were located more proximally than in patients with PNR &amp;gt; 1 (Group 2), and angio-CT confirm anatomically massive PE. A percentage of patients with thrombi in both, left and right pulmonary arteries, in both lobar pulmonary arteries and lobar+ segmental arteries was higher in Group 1 (PNR &amp;lt; 1) than in Group 2 (PNR &amp;gt; 1): LPA + RPA: 28.6 vs 6.7%, lobar L and R: 57 vs 26.6%, lobar + segmental: 31 vs 20%. A number of patients with thrombi in the MPA was similar in both groups. Conclusion A noninvasive pulmonary flow notch ratio (PNR) may be useful for indicating APE patients with more extensive disease and proximal location of thrombi, at least in lobar pulmonary arteries.

Performance of the right ventricular outflow tract/aortic diameter as a novel predictor of risk in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Right ventricular (RV) enlargement, determined via the ratio of the right to left ventricular diameters (RV/LV) by CT imaging is used to classify the severity of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and impacts treatment decisions. The RV/LV ratio may be an unreliable marker of RV dysfunction, due in part to the complex RV geometry. This study compared the RV/LV ratio to a novel metric, the ratio of the right ventricular to aortic outflow tract diameters (RVOT/Ao) in patients with acute PE treated with catheter-directed therapies (CDT). RVOT/Ao and RV/LV ratios were measured on CT images from 103 patients who received CDT for acute submassive or massive PE and were compared to RV dysfunction severity determined by transthoracic echocardiography. Ratios and biomarkers on admission were assessed for correlation with invasively-measured hemodynamics [right atrial (RA) pressure, mean pulmonary artery (PA) pressure, cardiac output (CO)]. RVOT/Ao but not RV/LV ratios were increased in patients with moderate or severe RV dysfunction compared to those without RV dysfunction (p < 0.05). Neither ratio showed significant correlation with RA (r = 0.09 vs 0.055, p > 0.05), mean PA pressure (r = 0.167 vs 0.146, p > 0.05), or CO (r = 0.021 vs - 0.183, p > 0.05). proBNP correlated with mean PA pressure (r = 0.377, p < 0.05). The RVOT/Ao ratio may be better at assessing RV dysfunction than the RV/LV ratio in patients presenting with acute PE. Although currently accepted protocols rely on the RV/LV ratio in determining when CDT are of benefit, the RVOT/Ao ratio may be a more useful tool in identifying high risk patients.

Assessing the severity of acute pulmonary embolism: back to the future?

Assessing the severity of acute pulmonary embolism: back to the future?

Pulmonary embolism critical care update: prognosis, treatment, and research gaps

We provide a timely update on treatment care issues facing clinicians and patients with acute pulmonary embolism accompanied by either right ventricular strain (sub-massive pulmonary embolism) or shock (massive pulmonary embolism). Care and research changes over the last several years have resulted in four important trends: more consensus and accuracy in the way acute pulmonary embolism severity is described and communicated among acute care clinicians and researchers, increased availability and use of risk prediction scoring systems, increased use of advanced invasive therapy in the setting of severe right ventricular dysfunction, and emergence of multidisciplinary pulmonary embolism response teams to guide standard care decision-making. Pulmonary embolism with shock should be treated with either systemic or catheter-based thrombolytic therapy in the absence of contraindications. Patients with sub-massive pulmonary embolism accompanied by right heart dysfunction who are treated with thrombolytic therapy likely will experience more rapid improvement in RV function and are less likely to progress to hemodynamic decompensation. This comes, however, with an increased risk of major bleeding. Our recommendation is to consider catheter-based or systemic fibrinolytic therapy in sub-massive pulmonary embolism cases where patients demonstrate high-risk features such as: severe RV strain on echo or CT, and importantly worsening over time trends in pulse, SBP, and oxygenation despite anticoagulation. Understanding the impact of advanced therapy beyond standard anticoagulation on patient-centered outcomes, such as functional status and quality of life represent a research knowledge gap.

Serum copeptin level may not play an important role in acute pulmonary embolism

Objective: To evaluate serum copeptin levels in acute pulmonary embolism (APE) patients and healthy controls and to determine the role of the serum copeptin level in the diagnosis and severity of APE. Methods: This prospective, case-control study was conducted in the Department of Chest Diseases. Fifty patients newly diagnosed with pulmonary embolism and 39 healthy individuals were enrolled. The diagnosis of APE was confirmed by computed tomography angiography. Copeptin levels were evaluated in both groups. All APE patients were evaluated with echocardiography to identify right ventricular dysfunction and to measure the pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP). Patients with APE were classified according to the risk of early mortality. The correlation between early mortality risk and PASP and copeptin levels was evaluated in patients with APE. Results: There was no significant difference between the APE and control groups in age or gender (both, p>0.05), and serum copeptin levels were similar between the two groups (p=0.309). The relationship between serum copeptin levels and early mortality risk and PASP in the APE group was also evaluated. There was no correlation between early mortality risk and serum copeptin levels and PASP. Conclusion: The serum copeptin level, which is an important prognostic marker for cardiovascular diseases, may not be a suitable biomarker for APE.

Predictive Scoring for Severity of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Does Timing Matter?

Predictive Scoring for Severity of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Does Timing Matter?