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Acute pulmonary embolism may occur rapidly and unpredictably and may be difficult to diagnose. Treatment can reduce mortality, and appropriate primary prophylaxis is usually effective. This review focuses on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of acute pulmonary embolism of thrombotic origin. Acute pulmonary embolism may occur rapidly and unpredictably and may be difficult to diagnose. This review focuses on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of acute pulmonary embolism of thrombotic origin. Pulmonary embolism, most commonly originating from deep venous thrombosis of the legs, ranges from asymptomatic, incidentally discovered emboli to massive embolism causing immediate death. Chronic sequelae of venous thromboembolism (deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) include the post-thrombotic syndrome 1 and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. 2 Acute pulmonary embolism may occur rapidly and unpredictably and may be difficult to diagnose. Treatment can reduce the risk of death, and appropriate primary prophylaxis is usually effective. Patients treated for acute pulmonary embolism appear to be almost four times as likely to die of recurrent thromboembolism in the next year as patients treated for deep . . .

Patients with pulmonary hypertension due to interstitial lung disease were randomly assigned to inhaled treprostinil or placebo. At 16 weeks, there was a significant improvement in exercise capacity with inhaled treprostinil as compared with placebo as assessed by a 6-minute walk test.

Among over 1100 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension who received selexipag, an oral selective IP prostacyclin-receptor agonist, or placebo, the risk of the composite end point of death or complication was lower with selexipag than with placebo at 1.3 years of follow-up. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a severe disease with a poor prognosis despite available treatment options. 1 Current recommendations support the use of a combination of therapies that target the endothelin, nitric-oxide, and prostacyclin pathways. 2 , 3 Despite the benefits of intravenous prostacyclin therapy, 2 , 4 many patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension die without ever receiving this treatment. 5 , 6 The burden and risks related to the administration of prostacyclin therapy are probably contributing factors. 7 Selexipag is an oral selective IP prostacyclin-receptor agonist that is structurally distinct from prostacyclin. 8 – 11 In a placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial involving patients who were already receiving treatment for pulmonary . . .

Information about the variation in the risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and in prophylaxis practices around the world is scarce. The ENDORSE (Epidemiologic International Day for the Evaluation of Patients at Risk for Venous Thromboembolism in the Acute Hospital Care Setting) study is a multinational cross-sectional survey designed to assess the prevalence of VTE risk in the acute hospital care setting, and to determine the proportion of at-risk patients who receive effective prophylaxis. All hospital inpatients aged 40 years or over admitted to a medical ward, or those aged 18 years or over admitted to a surgical ward, in 358 hospitals across 32 countries were assessed for risk of VTE on the basis of hospital chart review. The 2004 American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) evidence-based consensus guidelines were used to assess VTE risk and to determine whether patients were receiving recommended prophylaxis. 68 183 patients were enrolled; 30 827 (45%) were categorised as surgical, and 37 356 (55%) as medical. On the basis of ACCP criteria, 35 329 (51·8%; 95% CI 51·4–52·2; between-country range 35·6–72·6) patients were judged to be at risk for VTE, including 19 842 (64·4%; 63·8–64·9; 44·1–80·2) surgical patients and 15 487 (41·5%; 41·0–42·0; 21·1–71·2) medical patients. Of the surgical patients at risk, 11 613 (58·5%; 57·8–59·2; 0·2–92·1) received ACCP-recommended VTE prophylaxis, compared with 6119 (39·5%; 38·7–40·3; 3·1–70·4) at-risk medical patients. A large proportion of hospitalised patients are at risk for VTE, but there is a low rate of appropriate prophylaxis. Our data reinforce the rationale for the use of hospital-wide strategies to assess patients' VTE risk and to implement measures that ensure that at-risk patients receive appropriate prophylaxis.

In acutely ill patients, 10 days of rivaroxaban was noninferior to 10 days of enoxaparin for thromboprophylaxis. Extended-duration rivaroxaban treatment (35 days) reduced the risk of venous thromboembolism. Rivaroxaban was associated with an increased risk of bleeding. Patients with active cancer, stroke, myocardial infarction, or acute exacerbations of a variety of medical conditions are at increased risk for venous thromboembolism. 1 Prolonged immobilization and risk factors such as an age older than 75 years, chronic heart failure, a history of venous thromboembolism, and obesity can increase this risk further. 2 , 3 Randomized, controlled trials involving hospitalized patients at increased risk for venous thromboembolism have shown the benefits of administering anticoagulant agents for up to 14 days, 4 – 8 and guidelines recommend the use of unfractionated heparin, low-molecular-weight heparins, or fondaparinux in such patients. 9 There is some evidence that the risk . . .

Background In pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), combination therapy is an important treatment strategy. Although randomized controlled trial data are available to support the combination of two therapies, data regarding triple combination therapy are few. Objective The phase III GRIPHON trial enrolled 1156 patients with PAH, including 376 receiving background double combination therapy. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of selexipag as a third agent in these patients and further analyzed this subgroup according to symptom burden at baseline as indicated by World Health Organization (WHO) functional class (FC). Methods In this post hoc analysis, hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using Cox proportional-hazard models to determine response to selexipag versus placebo on the composite primary endpoint of morbidity/mortality. Baseline characteristics and adverse events were summarized descriptively. Results Of 376 patients receiving background endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE-5i) therapy, 115 had WHO FC II symptoms and 255 had WHO FC III symptoms at baseline. The impact on the primary endpoint of adding selexipag versus placebo to double combination therapy was consistent with the effect in the overall population (HR 0.63; 95% CI 0.44–0.90) as well as in patients with WHO FC II and III symptoms. Compared with the overall population, discontinuations due to an adverse event were higher when selexipag was added to background double combination therapy; no safety concerns were identified. Conclusion The addition of selexipag to background double combination therapy with an ERA and PDE-5i provides an incremental benefit similar to that seen in the overall population, including in patients with WHO FC II or III symptoms at baseline. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01106014.

Multidetector computed tomographic angiography (CTA) was evaluated alone and with imaging of the pelvic and thigh veins (CTA–CTV). As compared with a reference standard for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism, CTA–CTV had a higher sensitivity than CTA alone, with similar specificity. Multidetector computed tomographic angiography (CTA) was evaluated alone and with imaging of the pelvic and thigh veins (CTA–CTV). CTA–CTV had a higher sensitivity than CTA alone, with similar specificity. Uncertainty persists about the accuracy of contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomographic angiography (CTA) for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. The sensitivity of single-slice CTA has ranged from 60 1 to 100 2 percent, and the specificity has ranged from 81 1 to 100 3 percent. A previous review focused on the diagnostic accuracy of single-slice CTA. 4 Visualization of segmental and subsegmental pulmonary arteries is substantially better with four-slice CTA and thin collimation (1.25 mm) than with single-slice CTA. 5 , 6 In two studies of fewer than 100 patients, sensitivities for the detection of pulmonary embolism with four-slice CTA have been reported to be 96 percent 7 and . . .

An otherwise healthy 51-year-old woman presents to her physician with pleuritic right posterior chest pain, without dyspnea or hemoptysis. Her temperature is 38.2°C, and her pulse is 102 beats per minute. Physical examination discloses a pleural friction rub over the posterior right hemithorax but is otherwise unremarkable. A chest radiograph is normal. She is treated with an antiinflammatory agent for presumed viral pleurisy. Three days later, she returns, reporting dyspnea. How should she be evaluated? A 51-year-old woman had pleuritic chest pain, then dyspnea. Foreword This Journal feature begins with a case vignette highlighting a common clinical problem. Evidence supporting various strategies is then presented, followed by a review of formal guidelines, when they exist. The article ends with the authors' clinical recommendations. Stage An otherwise healthy 51-year-old woman presents to her physician with pleuritic right posterior chest pain, without dyspnea or hemoptysis. Her temperature is 38.2°C, and her pulse is 102 beats per minute. Physical examination discloses a pleural friction rub over the posterior right hemithorax but is otherwise unremarkable. A chest radiograph is normal. She is treated with an antiinflammatory agent for presumed viral pleurisy. Three days later, she returns, reporting dyspnea. How should she be evaluated? The Clinical Problem Although the exact incidence of pulmonary embolism is uncertain, it is estimated that 600,000 episodes occur each year in the United . . .

Small, open-label studies suggest that combinations of existing therapies may be effective for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). To evaluate the safety and efficacy of adding inhaled iloprost, a prostacyclin analog, to the endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan in patients with PAH. In a randomized, multicenter, double-blind trial, inhaled iloprost (5 mug) or placebo was added to stable monotherapy with bosentan for 12 wk. Efficacy endpoints included change from baseline in 6-min-walk distance (6-MWD), modified New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, hemodynamic parameters, and time to clinical worsening. A total of 67 patients with PAH (55% idiopathic PAH, 45% associated PAH, 94% NYHA class III, and mean baseline 6-MWD of 335 m) were randomized. At Week 12, patients receiving iloprost had a mean increase in 6-MWD of 30 m (p = 0.001); placebo patients had a mean 6-MWD increase of 4 m (p = 0.69), with a placebo-adjusted difference of +26 m (p = 0.051). NYHA status improved by one class in 34% of iloprost versus 6% of placebo patients (p = 0.002). Iloprost delayed the time to clinical worsening (p = 0.0219). Improvements were noted in postinhalation placebo-adjusted change in mean pulmonary artery pressure (-8 mm Hg; p < 0.001) and pulmonary vascular resistance (-254 dyn x s x cm(-5); p < 0.001). Combination therapy was well tolerated. Within the limitations of a relatively small sample size, results of this study demonstrate that the addition of inhaled iloprost in patients with PAH with reduced exercise capacity on bosentan monotherapy is safe and efficacious.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. There have been many advances in the field of PE in the last few years, requiring a careful assessment of their impact on patient care. However, variations in recommendations by different clinical guidelines, as well as lack of robust clinical trials, make clinical decisions challenging. The Pulmonary Embolism Response Team Consortium is an international association created to advance the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of patients with PE. In this consensus practice document, we provide a comprehensive review of the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of acute PE, including both clinical data and consensus opinion to provide guidance for clinicians caring for these patients.