Efficacy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease and exercise pulmonary hypertension

The efficacy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) in patients with chronic thromboembolic disease (CTEPD) without pulmonary hypertension (PH) remains unknown. Exercise PH (Ex-PH) is associated with impaired exercise capacity, even when pulmonary hemodynamics are normal at rest. We hypothesized that patients with Ex-PH could be the candidates for BPA. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical profiles of Ex-PH and the effect of BPA on oxygenation and Ex-PH in patients with CTEPD and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) ≤ 20 mmHg.