Thromb Haemost 2005; 93(03): 512-516
DOI: 10.1160/TH04-10-0657
Blood Coagulation, Fibrinolysis and Cellular Haemostasis
Schattauer GmbH

Medical conditions increasing the risk of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Diana Bonderman
1   Medical University of Vienna, Departments of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Johannes Jakowitsch
1   Medical University of Vienna, Departments of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Christopher Adlbrecht
1   Medical University of Vienna, Departments of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Michael Schemper
2   Department of Medical Computer Sciences; Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Paul A. Kyrle
3   Department of Hematology; Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Verena Schönauer
3   Department of Hematology; Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Markus Exner
4   Department of Laboratory Medicine; Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Walter Klepetko
5   Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery; Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Meinhard P. Kneussl
6   Department of Pulmonary Medicine; Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Gerald Maurer
1   Medical University of Vienna, Departments of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Irene Lang
1   Medical University of Vienna, Departments of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
› Author Affiliations

Grant support: This research was supported by the Austrian fellowship grant FWF P13834-MED (to IML), the österreichischer Selbsthilfeverein Lungenhochdruck and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institutes for Cardiovascular Research and Thrombosis Research.
Further Information

Publication History

Received 10 October 2004

Accepted after revision 28 February 2004

Publication Date:
14 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is characterized by organized thromboemboli that obstruct the pulmonary vascular bed. Although CTEPH is a serious complication of acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism in 4% of cases, signs, symptoms and classical risk factors for venous thromboembolism are lacking. The aim of the present study was to identify medical conditions conferring an increased risk of CTEPH. We performed a case-control-study comparing 109 consecutive CTEPH patients to 187 patients with acute pulmonary embolism that was confirmed by a high probability lung scan. Splenectomy (odds ratio=13, 95% CI 2.7–127), ventriculoatrial (VA-) shunt for the treatment of hydrocephalus (odds ratio=13, 95% CI 2.5–129) and chronic inflammatory disorders, such as osteomyelitis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, odds ratio=67, 95% CI 7.9–8832) were associated with an increased risk of CTEPH.