PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Olaf Mercier
AU  - Elie Fadel
TI  - Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: animal models
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.00101612
DP  - 2013 May 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 1200--1206
VI  - 41
IP  - 5
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/41/5/1200.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/41/5/1200.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 May 01; 41
AB  - Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a life-threatening disease due to pulmonary artery obstruction by persistent organised clots related to one or more episodes of acute pulmonary embolism. To date, the pathogenesis of CTEPH remains unexplained. Pulmonary endarterectomy removes obstruction from pulmonary vessels and can cure patients. However, some unreachable distal pulmonary obstruction and/or associated distal pulmonary vasculopathy could induce persistent pulmonary hypertension, the main postoperative complication. The pathophysiology of CTEPH is not fully understood and improving knowledge of this disease could improve our future surgical and medical management. Many attempts, conducted over several decades, have failed to reproduce this chronic disease in animals. However, several animal models have provided insights into the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of CTEPH. Here, we review all the animal models that have improved the comprehension of CTEPH and hold promise for further investigations. This short review analyses strengths and weaknesses of all animal models available to study the pathophysiology of CTEPH.