Introduction: Application of the chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) rule out criteria (manual electrocardiogram [ECG] reading and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide ... Show moreIntroduction: Application of the chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) rule out criteria (manual electrocardiogram [ECG] reading and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide [NTproBNP] test) can rule out CTEPH in pulmonary embolism (PE) patients with persistent dyspnea (InShape II algorithm). Increased pulmonary pressure may also be identified using automated ECG-derived ventricular gradient optimized for right ventricular pressure overload (VG-RVPO). Method: A predefined analysis of the InShape II study was performed. The diagnostic performance of the VG-RVPO for the detection of CTEPH and the incremental diagnostic value of the VG-RVPO as new rule-out criteria in the InShape II algorithm were evaluated. Results: 60 patients were included; 5 (8.3%) were ultimately diagnosed with CTEPH. The mean baseline VG-RVPO (at time of PE diagnosis) was -18.12 mV.ms for CTEPH patients and - 21.57 mV.ms for non-CTEPH patients (mean difference 3.46 mV.ms [95%CI -29.03 to 35.94]). The VG-RVPO (after 3-6 months follow-up) normalized in patients with and without CTEPH, without a clear between-group difference (mean Delta VG-RVPO of -8.68 and - 8.42 mV.ms respectively; mean difference of -0.25 mV.ms, [95%CI -12.94 to 12.44]). The overall predictive accuracy of baseline VG-RVPO, follow-up RVPO and Delta VG-RVPO for CTEPH was moderate to poor (ROC AUC 0.611, 0.514 and 0.539, respectively). Up to 76% of the required echocardiograms could have been avoided with VG-RVPO criteria replacing the InShape II rule-out criteria, however at cost of missing up to 80% of the CTEPH diagnoses. Conclusion: We could not demonstrate (additional) diagnostic value of VG-RVPO as standalone test or as on top of the InShape II algorithm. Show less
Meijer, F.M.M.; Hendriks, S.V.; Huisman, M.V.; Hulle, T. van der; Swenne, C.A.; Kies, P.; ... ; Klok, F.A. 2020
Introduction: The YEARS algorithm was successfully developed to reduce the number of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) investigations in the diagnostic management of patients with... Show moreIntroduction: The YEARS algorithm was successfully developed to reduce the number of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) investigations in the diagnostic management of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE), although half of patients still needed to be referred for CTPA. We hypothesized that ECG derived ventricular gradient optimized for right ventricular pressure overload (VG-RVPO), an easy to use tool for detecting PE-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH), may further improve the efficiency of the YEARS algorithm.Methods: In this post-hoc analysis of the Years study, ECGs of 479 patients with suspected PE managed according to the YEARS algorithm were available for analysis. The diagnostic performance of VG-RVPO was assessed and likelihood ratios were calculated.Results: PE was diagnosed in 88 patients (18%). In patients with confirmed PE, 34% had an abnormal VG-RVPO versus 24% of those without PE (odds ratio 1.6; 95%CI 0.94-2.6). The mean VG-RVPO was -22 +/- 13 and did not differ between the two patient groups (-22 versus-20; mean difference - 2, 95% CI -4.8 to 1.3). The sensitivity of VG-RVPO for PE was 24% (95%CI 34-45), the specificity 76% (95%CI 71-80) and the c-statistic 0.45 (95% CI 0.38-0.51). When combined with the YEARS algorithm, the likelihood ratios of VG-RVPO remained close to 1.0. Ruling out PE in patients with an indication for CTPA based on a normal VG-RVPO would have resulted in 58 missed cases.Conclusions: The VG-RVPO has no diagnostic value for suspected acute PE, either as stand-alone diagnostic test or combined with the YEARS algorithm.Condensed abstract: This post-hoc analysis of the YEARS study failed to demonstrate incremental diagnostic value of VG-RVPO for acute PE, either as stand-alone diagnostic test or combined with the YEARS algorithm. Nevertheless, the role of VG-RVPO recorded on admission could potentially be valuable in the risk stratification of PE during hospitalization, although this remains to be studied. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier Inc. Show less
