Iqra Mumal, MSc,  —

Low-dose radiation given to two mouse models of pulmonary hypertension depleted disease-causing cells, preventing and reversing the development of the condition, researchers report. Their study, “Low dose 100 cGy irradiation as a potential therapy for pulmonary hypertension,” was published in the Journal of Cellular Physiology. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) develops due to…

Actelion Pharmaceuticals has received a complete response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifying that the company needs to conduct further studies and obtain more data in order to accurately assess the use of Opsumit (macitentan) in the treatment of patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The…

Arterial stiffness, a marker of atherosclerosis, is significantly greater in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) compared to people with other diseases that also put them at risk of atherosclerosis, researchers report. The study, “Increased systemic arterial stiffness in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension,” was published…

Exhaled breath temperature could serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), a new study shows. The study, “Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Exhaled Breath Temperature as Potential Biomarkers in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension,” was published in the journal Biomed Research International. There is a…

Mylan recently introduced a formulation of 20 mg tadalafil tablets, the first generic version of Eli Lilly‘s Adcirca, in the United States for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave Mylan final approval for its abbreviated new drug application for tadalafil,…

The emotional well-being of people with pulmonary hypertension (PH), particularly in relation to levels of anxiety and depression, may be better explained by taking into account their life circumstances and not the severity of their disease alone, a study reports. The study, “Depression and Anxiety in Patients With Pulmonary…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Medtronic’s Implantable System for Remodulin, or ISR, to deliver Remodulin to patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PAH patients have high blood pressure in their pulmonary arteries, those that carry blood from the heart to the lungs, which can cause damage to…

Patients with pulmonary hypertension have little daily exercise, often at levels so low their their odds of survival are reduced, according to researchers. Their study, “Physical activity levels are low in patients with pulmonary hypertension,” was published in the journal Annals of Translational Medicine. International guidelines recommend…

British researchers have identified rare mutations of four genes that could lead to pulmonary arterial hypertension. The team said scientists might be able to develop PAH treatments around the mutations of the genes GDF2, ATP13A3, AQP1, and SOX17. Their study, “Identification of rare sequence variation underlying heritable pulmonary…

Levosimendan improved right ventricular function in a rat model of pulmonary hypertension, supporting its potential as an effective therapy for the disease, a study shows. The study, “Levosimendan improves cardiac function and myocardial efficiency in rats with right ventricular failure,” was published in the journal Pulmonary…

Primary pulmonary hypertension (PH), age extremes (less than 6 months or older than 16 years), invasive interventions, and co-diagnoses with other severe diseases are all risk factors for mortality in children with PH who are in pediatric intensive care units, a new study shows. The study, “Multicenter…

Vivus announced that it is in discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to possibly test tacrolimus — an oral medication used to prevent organ rejection after a transplant — as a potential treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In a scheduled pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) application meeting, the…