Case Report

Unilateral Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension - A Case Report of Unusual Presentation of CTEPH

Nihar Mehta¹, Nikesh Jain²*, Sanjeev Vichare³ and Ajit Desai⁴

¹Consultant Cardiologist, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, India

² Junior Consultant Cardiologist, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, India

³ Consultant CVTS Surgeon, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, India

⁴Department of Cardiology, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, India

Submission: July 29, 2019; Published: August 19, 2019

*Corresponding author: Nikesh Jain, Junior Consultant Cardiologist, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai 4000070, Maharashtra, India

How to cite this article:Nihar Mehta, Nikesh Jain, Sanjeev Vichare, Ajit Desai. Unilateral Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension - A Case Report of Unusual Presentation of CTEPH. J Cardiol & Cardiovasc Ther. 2019; 14(4): 555892. DOI: 10.19080/JOCCT.2019.14.555892

Abstract

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension categorized as group IV pulmonary according to World Health Organization, is defined as mean pulmonary arterial pressure of more than 25 mm Hg that persists inspite of more than 6 months of anticoagulation in presence of persistent pulmonary thrombi. Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is an uncommon and potentially fatal sequelae of acute pulmonary embolism. It is usually diagnosed in late stage due to lack of early diagnosis and carry poor prognosis if definitive treatment is not given. As compared to other categories of pulmonary hypertension, chronic thromboembolic hypertension is potentially curable with pulmonary endarterectomy. The usual presentation is bilateral pulmonary artery involvement. We describe an unusual presentation of unilateral pulmonary artery involvement in a patient with Factor V Leiden mutation. Patient was successfully treated with pulmonary endarterectomy.

Keywords: Unilateral chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension; Pulmonary endarterectomy; Unilateral pulmonary involvement; Thrombophilia

Introduction

CTEPH occurs in 3.8-4.8% of patients following acute pulmonary embolism [1,2]. It is defined as mean pulmonary arterial pressure of more than 25mmHg persisting for more than 6 months inspite of adequate anticoagulation. It is categorized as group IV as per WHO category of pulmonary hypertension [3].

CTEPH is a pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension resulting from persistent thrombus in pulmonary artery which becomes fibrotic and flow limiting. Though it is a sequela of acute pulmonary embolism many patients do not give such history and present in chronic stage.

CTEPH is usually diagnosed in its late stage and carry a poor prognosis if untreated. Pulmonary endarterectomy can effectively cure CTEPH and is the only curable cause of severe pulmonary hypertension. Patients who are not candidates of pulmonary endarterectomy, in select patients balloon pulmonary angioplasty can be offered to patients [4-6].

Usually in CTEPH bilateral pulmonary arteries are involved. Unilateral CTEPH is a very uncommon presentation. We describe an unusual case of unilateral CTEPH which was successfully treated with pulmonary endarterectomy.

Case Report

We present the case of 48-year-old gentleman, chronic smoker, no other comorbidities, who presented to us with exertional breathlessness, now in NYHA class III and hemoptysis.

On evaluation for exertional breathlessness 5 months back, patient was found to have DVT of lower limb with pulmonary thromboembolism. Patient’s CT scan of chest showed complete thrombotic occlusion of left pulmonary artery and partial filling defect in right posterior basal segmental branch of pulmonary artery. Patient was thrombolysed and started on oral anticoagulation. Due to persistent symptoms and thrombus demonstrated on follow-up CT scan, a retrievable IVC filter was inserted and oral anticoagulation continued.

Patient now presented with worsening symptoms and hemoptysis. His CT Chest showed persistent complete occlusion of left pulmonary at its origin with thrombus extension upto subsegmental branches and partial filling defect in right posterobasal segmental branch of right pulmonary artery (Figure 1 & 2). 2D Echocardiography showed normal LV function, Dilated RA/RV, RV dysfunction (TAPSE – 9mm, RVSM – 7cm/s), PASP 60mmHg and moderate TR. Further investigations revealed factor V Leiden mutation positive. Cardiac catheterisation showed PAP – 49/24 (32) mmHg, high PVR (793.6dynes/cm2 i.e. 9.92 WU) and normal cardiac index. Ventilation Perfusion Scan revealed perfusion defects in the entire left lung and lower lobe of the right lung (Figure 3). The patient underwent a bilateral pulmonary endarterectomy (Figure 4). His post-operative course was uneventful. Patient required assisted ventilation for 2 days and was discharged after 8 days on oral anticoagulation. Six month later the patient remains asymptomatic and 2D echocardiography showed normal RV function and no evidence of pulmonary hypertension on echocardiography

Discussion

CTEPH is an uncommon sequela of acute pulmonary embolism and is a potentially fatal condition. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is the gold standard treatment and surgically amenable patients should be referred to an experienced centre for treatment, with peri-procedural mortality of 2% to 5% at experienced centres [7]. Our case had an unusual unilateral presentation with Factor V Leidin mutation which was successfully managed with pulmonary endarterectomy. There are only few case reports who had unilateral CTEPH and both the cases described had underlying thrombhophilia [8,9]. The exact pathophysiological mechanism behind unilateral presentation specifically with thrombhophilic states is not clear.

References

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