Professorship for Multicenter Clinical Trials

• advanced reperfusion strategies, including reduced-dose systemic thrombolysis or catheter-directed pharmacomechanical thrombus removal, for risk-adapted treatment of acute severe (intermediate-high-risk) pulmonary embolism

• identification of patients with low-risk pulmonary embolism who may be candidates for early discharge and home treatment

• approoaches to secondary VTE prevention beyond chronic oral anticoagulation, with a focus on modifying the patient’s global cardiovascular risk profile

• reliable, cost-effective algorithms for patient follow-up after pulmonary embolism, aiming at the prevention or early detection of severe late sequelae

• innovative strategies for de-escalation of postoperative primary thromboprophylaxis in parallel to the progress in surgical techniques and early patient mobilization.

Team - Clinical Trials

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Professor Stavros Konstantinides, MD

Internal Medicine, Cardiology
Medical Director CTH

Publications (Selection) (2023-2026)

• Valerio L, Christodoulou KC, Abele C, Ten Cate V, Keller K, Kucher N, Middeldorp S, Prandoni P, Righini M, Konstantinides SV, Barco S. Postthrombotic syndrome: risk after deep vein thrombosis and estimates of its incidence and prevalence in Europe. J Thromb Haemost. 2026 May;24(5):1690-1699.
• Farmakis IT, Binder H, Chopard R, Christodoulou KC, Evrenoglou T, Fengler K, Giri J, Hobohm L, Jaber WA, Klok FA, Kocka V, Kroupa J, Kucher N, Lookstein RA, Mahfoud F, Meneveau N, Moriarty JM, Piazza G, Rosenfield K, Rosovsky RP, Sadeghipour P, Sanchez O, Schwarzer G, Sharp ASP, Sista AK, Valerio L, Konstantinides SV, Barco S. Reperfusion strategies for acute pulmonary embolism: Design and rationale of RECONNECT-PE-A living systematic review and meta-analysis. Am Heart J. 2026 May;295:107365.
• Chopard R, Hobohm L, Barco S, Bangalore S, Giri J, Mahfoud F, Moriarty J, Rosenkranz S, Sharp A, Thiele H, Toma C, Tapson VF, Markovitz CD, Rosenberg SP, Konstantinides S, Meneveau N. Large-bore mechanical thrombectomy vs standard of care for acute high-risk pulmonary embolism: Rationale and design of the PERSEVERE randomized controlled trial. Am Heart J. 2026 Apr;294:107331.
• Farmakis IT, Christodoulou KC, Barco S, Keller K, Konstantinides SV, Hobohm L. Advanced reperfusion therapies for acute pulmonary embolism in pregnancy and postpartum. Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care. 2026 Mar 31:zuag047.
• Fumagalli RM, Zbinden S, Cardi S, Fürbringer-Schwarz A, Gyolay OA, Voci D, Klok FA, Konstantinides SV, Von Stempel C, Kucher N, Barco S. Post-pulmonary embolism cardiac impairment and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension after ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis for acute pulmonary embolism. Clin Res Cardiol. 2026 Mar 30. Epub ahead of print.
• Rosenfield K, Klok FA, Piazza G, Sharp ASP, Ní Áinle F, Jaff MR, Barco S, Goldhaber SZ, Kucher N, Lang IM, Schmidtmann I, Sterling KM, Araszkiewicz A, Arora V, Cires-Drouet R, Coghlan J, Hobohm L, Ito WD, Jacobson K, Kaiser C, Kopec G, Marx K, McElwee S, Meneveau N, Monteleone P, Montero-Cabezas JM, Olivier CB, Park J, Roik M, Sakhuja R, Tego A, Theurl M, Visveswaran G, Vos JA, Young MN, Asch FM, Konstantinides SV; HI-PEITHO Investigators. Ultrasound-Facilitated, Catheter-Directed Fibrinolysis for Acute Pulmonary Embolism. N Engl J Med. 2026 May 28;394(20):1979-1990.
• Farmakis IT, Horbal S, Moriarty JM, Elder M, Todoran T, Rosovsky RP, Lehr E, Langston MD, Sokol SI, Rosenfield K, Lookstein R, Secemsky E, Christodoulou KC, Hobohm L, Valerio L, Barco S, Konstantinides SV. Trends in catheter-directed therapy and in-hospital outcomes among patients with acute pulmonary embolism: insights from a multicentre national quality assurance database registry. Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care. 2026 Mar 16;15(2):125-133.
• Klok FA, Sharp A, Ahrens I, Aleksic M, Ni Ainle F, Barco S, Bertoletti L, Keeling B, Fengler K, Helms J, Jiménez D, Lang IM, Lauw MN, Lorusso R, Martin-Loeches I, Meijboom LJ, Meneveau N, Montero-Cabezas J, O'Sullivan G, Pola R, Pruszczyk P, Sanchez O, Schlager O, Schultz J, Sinan UY, Vedovati MC, Verhamme P, Zaher A, Huisman MV, Konstantinides SV. Rationale for and approach to establishing a multidisciplinary acute pulmonary embolism expert care team. Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care. 2026 Mar 16;15(2):151-161.
• Mohr K, Christodoulou KC, Barco S, Valerio L, Neusius T, Keller K, Hobohm L, Vosseler M, Uphaus T, Hahn M, Klok FA, Binder H, Konstantinides S, Rognoni C. Impact of Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis on the Socio-Economic Burden of Pulmonary Embolism in Germany: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis. Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes. 2026 Jan 19:qcag003.
• Lookstein RA, Konstantinides SV, Weinberg I, Dohad SY, Rosol Z, Kopeć G, Moriarty JM, Parikh SA, Holden A, Channick RN, McDonald B, Nagarsheth KH, Yamada K, Rosovsky RP; STORM-PE Trial Investigators. Randomized Controlled Trial of Mechanical Thrombectomy With Anticoagulation Versus Anticoagulation Alone for Acute Intermediate-High Risk Pulmonary Embolism: Primary Outcomes From the STORM-PE Trial. Circulation. 2026 Jan 6;153(1):21-34.
• Fumagalli RM, von Stempel C, Pleming W, Klok FA, Konstantinides SV, Kucher N, Rawal B, Valerio L, Barco S. Comparative outcomes of ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis between patients with acute and acute-on-chronic pulmonary embolism. Thromb Res. 2026 Jan;257:109552.
• Farmakis IT, Valerio L, Barco S, Hobohm L, Mohr K, Christodoulou KC, Dumitrescu D, Ewert R, Faehling M, Fistera D, Held M, Giannakoulas G, Lurz P, Rosenkranz S, Klok FA, Konstantinides SV. Follow-up algorithm for detecting chronic sequelae of pulmonary embolism: diagnostic performance and possible limitations. J Thromb Haemost. 2025 Dec 23:S1538-7836(25)00912-2.
• Christodoulou KC, Barco S, Abele C, Lodigiani C, Monreal M, Konstantinides SV, Valerio L. Burden of Atherosclerosis and Outcomes of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Post Hoc Analysis of the Hokusai-VTE Trial. J Am Heart Assoc. 2025 Nov 18;14(22):e041420.
• Mali RMA, Ninaber MK, van Mens TE, Konstantinides SV, Klok FA; Delphi Study Contributing Group. Key elements of follow-up care after acute pulmonary embolism focusing on long-term sequelae: a Delphi study among European experts. Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes. 2025 Nov 4;11(7):1137-1143.
• Stenger WJE, den Uil CA, Rietdijk WJR, Al Amri I, Montero-Cabezas JM, Elzo Kraemer CV, van Mens TE, Meuwese CL, van Mieghem NMDA, Lauw MN, van den Toorn LM, Levolger S, van de Luijtgaarden KM, Sprenger RA, van Dongen JM, Imani F, Meuwissen M, Kant KM, Aarts RAHM, Winckers K, Brans RJB, Kuiper GJAJM, Schnabel R, Ende-Verhaar YM, Urlings TAJ, Ruys TA, Slot S, Scheffer HJ, Adriaansens SOJH, Boomsma MF, Nijholt IM, Walen S, Leentjens J, Jenniskens S, van Geuns RJ, Griffioen A, Nijkeuter M, Ruigrok D, Vos JA, Kies DA, Tuinman PR, Lely RJ, van der Meijs BB, Hovens MMC, Konstantinides SV, Mol MS, Kraaijeveld AO, Klok FA; Contributing authors. Thrombectomy in high-risk pulmonary embolism - device versus thrombolysis: rationale and design of the TORPEDO-NL investigator-initiated, academically-sponsored, multicenter, open-label randomized controlled trial. Thromb Res. 2025 Nov;255:109420.
• Valerio L, Grochtdreis T, Mavromanoli AC, Farmakis IT, Abele C, Neusius T, Mohr K, Christodoulou KC, Hobohm L, Keller K, Konnopka A, Barco S, Konstantinides SV. Burden and long-term impact of pulmonary embolism on health-related quality of life: a matched cohort study. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2025 Oct 28;32(15):1506-1514.
• Barco S, Abele C, Ageno W, Klok FA, Wenzel P, Trinchero A, Malcovati L, Konstantinides SV, Valerio L. Warfarin reduces circulating white blood cell count: Post-hoc analysis of two randomized trials. Thromb Res. 2025 Oct;254:109452.
• Christodoulou KC, Mohr K, Uphaus T, Jägersberg M, Valerio L, Farmakis IT, Hobohm L, Binder H, Konstantinides SV, Keller K. Hospital Costs of Intracranial Haemorrhage in Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Possible Implications for Emerging Therapies. Thromb Haemost. 2025 Oct;125(10):1048-1051.
• Mohr K, Barco S, Neusius T, Konstantinides S. Socioeconomic Burden of Pulmonary Embolism in Europe: Shifting Priorities and Challenges for Novel Reperfusion Strategies. Thromb Haemost. 2025 Oct;125(10):933-943.
• Mohr K, Hobohm L, Kaier K, Farmakis IT, Valerio L, Barco S, Abele C, Münzel T, Neusius T, Konstantinides S, Binder H, Keller K. Drivers and recent trends of hospitalisation costs related to acute pulmonary embolism. Clin Res Cardiol. 2025 Oct;114(10):1246-1257.
• Drees P, Schmidtmann I, Herbst M, Becker D, Barco S, Klok FA, Keller K, Hobohm L, Christodoulou KC, Abele C, Bauersachs R, Ageno W, Grove EL, Kehlet H, Hufen F, Klonschinski T, Afghanyar Y, Eckhard L, Martin N, Fischer S, Gorbulev S, Rath D, Mavromanoli AC, Jabbour C, Lang I, Couturaud F, Heiss C, Binder H, Konstantinides S. Enhanced recovery and abbreviated length of anticoagulation for thromboprophylaxis after primary hip arthroplasty rationale and design of the ENABLE-hip trial. J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2025 Aug;58(6):689-698.
• Klok FA, Barco S, Bertoletti L, Bhalla S, Dubois S, Le Gal G, Haramati LB, van Hooidonk E, Humbert M, Konstantinides SV, Lang IM, Murphy WS, Ohno Y, Price S, Prokop M, Pruszczyk P, Rossi A, Thistlethwaite PA, West C, Remy-Jardin M. Optimal approach to performing and reporting computed tomography angiography for suspected acute pulmonary embolism: a clinical consensus statement of the ESC Working Group on Pulmonary Circulation & Right Ventricular Function, the Fleischner Society, the Association for Acute CardioVascular Care (ACVC) and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) of the ESC, endorsed by European Respiratory Society (ERS), Asian Society of Thoracic Radiology (ASTR), European Society of Thoracic Imaging (ESTI), and Society of Thoracic Radiology (STR). Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2025 Jun 30;26(7):1085-1098.
• Farmakis IT, Christodoulou KC, Hobohm L, Giannakoulas G, Keller K, Lurz P, Valerio L, Barco S, Konstantinides SV. Trends in home treatment and early discharge of patients with low-risk pulmonary embolism. J Thromb Haemost. 2025 Jun;23(6):1968-1973.
• Wolf S, Valerio L, Kucher N, Konstantinides SV, Klaassen ILM, van Ommen CH, Ay C, Klok FA, Cannegieter SC, Barco S. Acute pulmonary embolism in children and adolescents in the USA (2016 and 2019): a nationwide retrospective cohort study. Lancet Respir Med. 2025 May;13(5):393-402.
• Farmakis IT, Kaier K, Hobohm L, Mohr K, Valerio L, Barco S, Konstantinides SV, Binder H. Healthcare resource utilisation and associated costs after low-risk pulmonary embolism: pre-specified analysis of the Home Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism (HoT-PE) study. Clin Res Cardiol. 2025 Feb;114(2):168-176.
• Luijten D, van den Hout WB, Boon GJAM, Barco S, Bogaard HJ, Delcroix M, Kreitner KF, Held M, Huisman MV, Jara-Palomares L, Konstantinides SV, Kroft LJM, Mairuhu ATA, Meijboom LJ, van Mens TE, Ninaber MK, Nossent EJ, Pruszczyk P, Valerio L, Vonk Noordegraaf A, Klok FA. Cost-effectiveness of follow-up algorithms for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in pulmonary embolism survivors. ERJ Open Res. 2025 Jan 13;11(1):00575-2024.
• Martens ESL, Becker D, Abele C, Abbel D, Achterberg WP, Bax JJ, Bertoletti L, Edwards ME, Font C, Gava A, Goedegebuur J, Højen AA, Huisman MV, Kruip MJHA, Mahé I, Mooijaart SP, Pearson M, Seddon K, Szmit S, Noble SIR, Klok FA, Konstantinides SV. Understanding European patterns of deprescribing antithrombotic medication during end-of-life care in patients with cancer. Thromb Res. 2025 Jan;245:109205.