The ESC working group on pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function

European Heart Journal, vol. 45, pp. 2805–2807

Abstract

Severe forms of pulmonary hypertension (PH), such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, as well as acute pulmonary embolism (PE) with or without right ventricular impairment, require dedicated and highly specialized care. The complexity of assessing and managing these disorders of pulmonary circulation requires a multifaceted, holistic, and multidisciplinary approach, with active involvement of patients in partnership with healthcare professionals. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Working Group on Pulmonary Circulation and Right Ventricular Function is an expanding scientific community, composed of specialists with a multidisciplinary profile. The main interest of this working group, besides focusing on acute PE and PAH, expands to other aetiologies of PH such as heart failure, lung diseases, and congenital heart diseases. The main objective of the working group is to improve the outcomes of care for patients with PH and/or PE by promoting knowledge, standardization of routine care, and scientific progress in science via basic translational and clinical research. Moreover, the working group is committed to providing continuing medical education in the field of pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function via dedicated symposia at ESC congresses, (online) courses, spring schools, webinars, review articles, scientific documents, and social media activities. Lastly, we have a programme to support early-career researchers and physicians via the Young Investigator Award Educational Programme, actively involving them in nucleus activities with a clear focus on diversity and gender equity. The working group functions collaboratively with other learned societies in task forces to publish guidelines and position papers on acute PE and PH. It maintains especially close working links with the Pulmonary Circulation and Pulmonary Vascular Disease Group of the European Respiratory Society (ERS), with special emphasis on organizing joint meetings including symposia at the ESC Congress. The COVID-19 pandemic had caused significant changes in the function of the working group similarly to all associations, councils, and other working groups of the ESC. The vast majority of educational meetings were organized remotely for almost 3 years. These digital scientific meetings attracted a significant number of online attendants and will probably continue to be an important part of future ESC educational material. The main output of the ESC in the field of the pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function in the previous years is summarized in Table 1. The main output of ESC in the field of pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function in the previous years NA, not applicable. The main output of ESC in the field of pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function in the previous years NA, not applicable. Most recently, the ESC Working Group on Pulmonary Circulation and Right Ventricular Function joined forces with the Association for Acute CardioVascular Care (ACVC) to found a multidisciplinary European network for improving outcomes of severe acute PE through science and practice: EXPERT-PE. In 2023, the network has been formalized as a study group within ACVC with strong links to the working group and shared leadership. Healthcare professionals from all relevant scientific societies, such as pulmonology, emergency medicine, (interventional) radiology, critical care and hematology have been invited to join this network. The activities of EXPERT-PE will further shape the multidisciplinary care for severe PE patients, with a particular focus on the optimal application of advanced therapies in the acute-care setting and beyond. G.G. has received fees for lectures and/or consultations from Actelion/Janssen, Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelheim, ELPEN Pharmaceuticals, Ferrer-Galenica, GlaxoSmithKline, Leo Pharma, MSD, Pfizer, Lilly, and United Therapeutics. F.K. reports grants or contracts from Bayer, BMS, BSCI, MSD, Leo Pharma, Actelion, Pharm-X, The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development, The Dutch Thrombosis Association, The Dutch Heart Foundation, and the Horizon Europe Programme, all unrelated to this work and paid to his institution.

Authors 2

1. George A. Giannakoulas corresponding

   Aristotle University of Thessaloniki · AHEPA University Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Cardiology, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Stil. Kiriakidi 1, 54637, Thessaloniki , Greece

2. Frederikus Albertus Klok Aachen Dept of Medicine - Thrombosis and Hemostasis

   University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz · Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, University Medical Center Mainz , Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz , Germany

   Department of Medicine-Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Leiden University Medical Center , Albinusdreef 2, 2300RC, Leiden, the   Netherlands