Ventilation/perfusion imaging predicts response to balloon pulmonary angioplasty in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Although balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) has emerged as an alternative treatment option for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), it is followed in some patients by residual PH. We studied the efficacy of BPA on pulmonary blood flow and the predictive value of ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scanning.

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical database, which included patients diagnosed with CTEPH who had received BPA. All patients undergone V/Q scanning to quantify the extent of pulmonary perfusion abnormality before and after BPA. Pulmonary hemodynamics were assessed by right heart catheterization, and cardiac function and exercise capacity were evaluated at baseline and post-BPA. A total of 120 CTEPH patients were included for analysis.

BPA significantly alleviated mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP: 48.0 ± 12.9 mmHg vs 34.7 ± 10.3 mmHg, P < 0.001) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR: 8.8 ± 4.1 Wood units vs 5.2 ± 3.0 Wood units, P < 0.001), and improved cardiac function (N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide: 1628.7 ± 2887.2 pg/mL vs 400.4 ± 669.3 pg/mL, P < 0.001) and exercise capacity (6-minute walking distance: 386 ± 122 m vs 461 ± 86 m, P < 0.001). The extent of pulmonary perfusion abnormality represented by the percentage of perfusion defects (PPDs%) was improved after BPA (50.1 ± 13.6 vs 35.6 ± 14.2, P < 0.001), with the right and inferior lung lobes benefitting the most. PPDs% < 35.5 at baseline and greater restoration of PPDs% after BPA (∆PPDs% > 20.6) were associated with a better response to BPA (PPDs% < 35.5: odds ratio [OR] 10.857, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.393–84.635, P = 0.023; ∆PPDs% > 20.6: OR 1.035, 95% CI 1.002–1.068, P = 0.036).

BPA significantly restored pulmonary blood flow, predominantly in the right and inferior lobes. V/Q scanning has the potential to predict the therapeutic response to BPA for CTEPH.