Post PE syndrome

From a recent review:

Highlights

•The post-PE syndrome is common and affects functional capacity and quality of life.

•Impaired thrombus resolution and right ventricular damage following acute PE are likely causative factors.

•Treatment of the post-PE syndrome is only established for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

•No current treatment is known to prevent the post-PE syndrome.

Abstract

The post-Pulmonary Embolism (post-PE) syndrome is being increasingly recognized as a long-term consequence of PE. Its most severe manifestation, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), affects a small proportion of PE survivors. However, many more with less severe post-PE syndrome have reduced quality of life and functional capacity. The pathophysiology is incompletely understood, but involves unresolved pulmonary artery thrombi, right ventricular damage, and abnormal gas exchange. Treatment has only been established for CTEPH, and further studies are required to determine how less severe forms of the post-PE syndrome should be treated and if preventive strategies can reduce its incidence.

This is a new thing to me and encompasses not only CTEPH but also more subtle residual vascular and gas exchange abnormalities as well as right ventricular dysfunction.