The 5th French Pulmonary Hypertension Network Meeting, convened in Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France, in 2023, served as a platform to examine current evidence and outstanding questions in pulmonary hypertension, particularly in the context of the recently published 2022 ESC/ERS Guidelines. The French Network is composed of some of France’s key experts in the field of pulmonary hypertension (see below in the citation), and includes a representative of the French pulmonary hypertension association HTaPFrance.
The event commenced with a presentation from Mélanie Gallant Dewavrin, Director of HTaPFrance, followed by a series of expert talks. These presentations covered a wide range of topics, from the fundamental definitions to the challenges in applying the new 2022 guidelines to clinical practice to cutting-edge applications of artificial intelligence in pulmonary vascular imaging.
Mélanie highlighted the crucial role of patient organisations in pulmonary hypertension care. She emphasized the importance of disseminating current information to patients, families, and local healthcare providers, while also stressing the need for expert centers to collaborate with entire medical teams for effective patient management. She also advocated for better access and comprehensive treatment approaches, combining pharmaceutical, surgical, and conventional therapies to enhance patients’ longevity and quality of life.
Beyond information sharing, Mélanie underscored its significant role in providing emotional, psychological, and social support to patients and caregivers. However, she noted that their ability to help is limited to those who reach out, emphasizing the need for greater visibility and accessibility within the pulmonary hypertension community.
To address this challenge, HTaPFrance is actively enhancing its online presence through its website and social media engagement, while also conducting targeted communication efforts at local, national, and European levels. Mélanie also called on healthcare professionals to play a crucial role in informing patients about patient associations and their valuable resources.
Mélanie announced the creation of the “Alliance for Pulmonary Hypertension”, a partnership with other European patient associations, and introduced the “Pulmonary Hypertension Knowledge Sharing Platform”. This initiative, she said, aims to unify and inform individuals affected by pulmonary hypertension, fostering a more connected and informed patient community.
Read more about the discussions at the French network meeting in the article titled “Evidence and unresolved questions in pulmonary hypertension: Insights from the 5th French Pulmonary Hypertension Network Meeting”, published in Volume 86, 2024 of the “Respiratory Medicine and Research”, available at this link.
Citation
Athénaïs Boucly, Laurent Bertoletti, Charles Fauvel, Mélanie Gallant Dewavrin, Christian Gerges, Julien Grynblat, Christophe Guignabert, Sébastien Hascoet, Xavier Jaïs, Etienne-Marie Jutant, Nicolas Lamblin, Olivier Meyrignac, Marianne Riou, Laurent Savale, Cécile Tromeur, Ségolène Turquier, Simon Valentin, Gérald Simonneau, Marc Humbert, Olivier Sitbon, David Montani, “Evidence and unresolved questions in pulmonary hypertension: Insights from the 5th French Pulmonary Hypertension Network Meeting”, Respiratory Medicine and Research, Volume 86, 2024,101123, ISSN 2590-0412, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resmer.2024.101123
