José Lopes, PhD, managing science editor —

Patients with sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension (SAPH) can improve their levels of a key biomarker after receiving specific treatment for PH, which suggests that PH-specific treatment may benefit this patient population, according to a real-world study. The study, “Clinical Features and Outcomes of Patients with Sarcoidosis-associated Pulmonary…

The first participant has been enrolled in a Phase 2 trial testing the investigational therapy levosimendan in pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (PH-HFpEF). Ejection fraction refers to how much blood the heart’s left ventricle pumps out with each contraction. In PH-HFpEF, the…

Children with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (IPH) who underwent lung or combined heart-lung transplants show similar survival rates to children who underwent these procedures for other indications, according to a study. Data also indicated that children who had a transplant at an older age had better outcomes. The study, “…

Patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have higher serum levels of antibodies against the EDX2 and PHAX proteins, according to research which suggests that these autoantibodies could be used as diagnostic tools for both diseases. The study, “Elevated levels…

Greater experience in balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) enables shorter hospital stays for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), reduces use of intensive care, and lowers medical costs while maintaining the procedure’s safety, according to new data from real-world practice in Japan. The study, “Shortening Hospital Stay Is…

Acute treatment with Ventavis (iloprost) improves the heart’s right ventricular (RV) function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and PAH associated with connective tissue disease (CTD-PAH), according to a study. The study, “Acute Iloprost Inhalation Improves Right Ventricle Function in Pulmonary Artery…

An implantable wireless system may help guide the transition from medication administered intravenously — Remodulin (treprostinil) — to one taken orally — Uptravi (selexipag) — in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), according to a small study. The study, “Use of an implantable wireless pulmonary pressure monitor during…

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) resolves over time in nearly two-thirds of premature babies, a study shows. However, the findings also revealed that being male, steroid use, and greater PH severity were associated with increased mortality in these patients. The study, “Death…

Treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) with Tracleer (bosentan) may be more cost-effective than epoprostenol medications or palliative care, but less than Revatio (sildenafil) and other endothelin receptor blockers, a review study suggests. The study, “Cost Effectiveness of Bosentan for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A…

Treatment with INOpulse for eight weeks is safe and provides clinically meaningful improvements in physical activity in patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD), according to top-line results of an ongoing Phase 2b trial. The results are from the first group of Bellerophon Therapeutics’…

Worse measures of blood flow, arterial oxygenation, and cardiac function may underlie the poor clinical condition of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) patients who also have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a new study. The research, “Obstructive sleep apnea in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary…

Non-pharmacological approaches such as relaxation training, slow breathing, and cognitive behavioral therapy could help lessen anxiety and depression in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), according to a review study. The research, “Anxiety and depression in patients with pulmonary hypertension: impact and management challenges,” was published…