Silver Spring, Md. (Oct. 11, 2017) – The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) joins global health organizations for World Thrombosis Day as part of its push to raise awareness of a disease associated with pulmonary embolism (PE), a life-threatening blood clot that usually forms in a vein deep in the legs and travels to the lungs.
PEs that are not completely resolved by the body or medical treatment can lead to chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), a rare form of pulmonary hypertension (PH). CTEPH is believed to occur in up to 3.8 percent of patients who suffer from an acute PE. Although nearly 50% of patients with CTEPH will not be able to remember a specific PE event. People living with CTEPH may be candidates for a pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE), a surgical procedure to remove the chronic clots that can significantly reduce or even normalize blood pressure in the lungs. People living with CTEPH who are not able to have a PTE, and those with PH that remains after surgery, may be candidates for an U.S. FDA approved oral medication.
PH is a progressive lung disease often misdiagnosed — as asthma, for example — that can lead to right heart failure. PH, which affects adults and children of all ages, can exist alone or in association with other conditions, such as scleroderma, lupus and other connective tissue diseases; congenital heart disease; chronic liver disease; HIV; congestive heart failure; COPD; and other illnesses.
As part of its “The Right Heart” Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month campaign in November, PHA will recognize CTEPH Awareness Day on Nov. 21, 2017, with a social media disease education push. PHA will educate people living with and at risk for developing PH about two tests central to the CTEPH diagnosis – a right heart catheterization and ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scan. With early diagnosis, 14 FDA-approved treatments are available that can extend and improve quality of life for many people diagnosed with specific forms of PH. PHA, which offers education and support resources for people living with PH, their families and health care professionals, is also promoting new CTEPH medical education webinars via PHA Online University.
About the Pulmonary Hypertension Association
Headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) is the country’s leading pulmonary hypertension organization. PHA’s mission is to extend and improve the lives of those affected by PH; its vision is a world without PH, empowered by hope. PHA achieves this by connecting and working together with the entire PH community of patients, families, health care professionals and researchers. For more information and to learn how you can support PH patients, visit www.PHAssociation.org and connect with PHA on Twitter and Instagram @PHAssociation and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PulmonaryHypertensionAssociation.
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