ERS International Congress 2021: highlights from the Pulmonary Vascular Diseases Assembly

Abstract

This article aims to summarise the latest research presented at the virtual 2021 European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress in the field of pulmonary vascular disease. In light of the current guidelines and proceedings, knowledge gaps are addressed and the newest findings of the various forms of pulmonary hypertension as well as key points on pulmonary embolism are discussed. Despite the comprehensive coverage of the guidelines for pulmonary embolism at previous conferences, discussions about controversies in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition in specific cases were debated and are addressed in the first section of this article. We then report on an interesting pro-con debate about the current classification of pulmonary hypertension. We further report on presentations on Group 3 pulmonary hypertension, with research exploring pathogenesis, phenotyping, diagnosis and treatment; important contributions on the diagnosis of post-capillary pulmonary hypertension are also included. Finally, we summarise the latest evidence presented on pulmonary vascular disease and COVID-19 and a statement on the new imaging guidelines for pulmonary vascular disease from the Fleischner Society.

FIGURE 1

Low diffusing capacity of lungs for carbon monoxide (D_LCO) in patients with pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) (courtesy of Karen Olssen). IPAH: idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension; SSc: systemic sclerosis; PVOD: pulmonary veno-occlusive disease; PCH: pulmonary capillary haemangiomatosis; PAH: pulmonary arterial hypertension.

FIGURE 2

OPTICS risk score. HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; SV1: s wave in V1 ECG lead; RV6: r wave in V6 ECG lead; PH: pulmonary hypertension.