New Combined Treatment Improves Heart Function in CTEPH Cases
A new sequential strategy has been found to successfully treat people with severe chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), significantly reducing high blood pressure and improving heart function.
The three-step regimen consists of medication, followed by balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA), and then pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) surgery. This approach is designed for individuals with unacceptably high surgical risk and complex blood clot locations.
According to the study, when this regimen is followed, it significantly reduces blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries and a marker of heart failure, improves functionality, and leads to a 95% survival rate.
A study by Steve Bryson, PhD, found that the strategy begins with medication, followed by BPA, then PEA surgery.
Author's summary: New treatment improves CTEPH outcomes.