Perspectives on global epidemiology challenges: iPVD Virtual Symposium series

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a complication of pulmonary embolism that is characterized by chronic obstruction of pulmonary arteries because of organized thrombi. Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the primary treatment of choice for CTEPH, which aims to clear the pulmonary arteries as completely as possible to decrease right ventricular afterload, thereby improving pulmonary hypertension (PH).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brazil was one of the most affected countries. Patients presented higher risk of acute venous thromboembolism (VTE), in particular, pulmonary embolism (PE).

The pathology of primary pulmonary hypertension was first described by Ernest Romberg in 1891 when he referred to histopathologic findings as pulmonary arterial sclerosis [1]. In the 1920s, Ayerza's Disease was described in a series of patients from Argentina with the proposed etiology being syphilis; this was subsequently disproven [2].

Data about pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients living in low- and middle-income countries remain scarce. This study assessed prognostic factors associated with time to clinical worsening (CW) or death of a cohort of PAH patients in Minas Gerais, Brazil.