José Lopes, PhD, managing science editor —

Age, ischemic heart disease, and kidney dysfunction are important predictors of outcomes in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), a Swedish study shows. The research, “Impact of age and comorbidity on risk stratification in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension,” was published recently in the European Respiratory Journal.

Activation of a molecule called PPAR-gamma may be a future strategy to prevent pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and other cardiovascular/pulmonary diseases, a study suggests. Findings were reported in the study, “PPARγ agonist pioglitazone reverses pulmonary hypertension and prevents right heart failure via fatty acid oxidation,” published in…

Right ventricular function of the heart is the primary determining factor of survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) receiving specific treatments, a study suggests. The study, “Predictors of poor outcome in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: A single center study,” was published in the journal…

Arena Pharmaceuticals’ ralinepag reduced the risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension patients dying, a Phase 2 clinical trial showed. Temple University Professor Raymond Benza will present the results at the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation meeting in Nice, France, on April 14.  The four-day conference started April 11. The…

Children with pulmonary hypertension (PH) are a relatively high-risk group for cardiac catheterization, a new study shows. In turn, hospital experience with the procedure reduces this risk. The research that supports that finding, “Risk Factors for Major Early Adverse Events Related to Cardiac Catheterization in Children and…

Bardoxolone methyl, Reata Pharmaceuticals’ treatment candidate for pulmonary hypertension (PH), improves exercise capacity and has a safe profile in patients with PH associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD), according to top-line results from a Phase 2 clinical trial. ILD is a group of several lung…

Combinations of Reviva Pharmaceuticals’ RP5063 and other pulmonary arterial hypertension treatments improved rats’  lung blood vessel structure and lung function, a study reports. Previous research in rats indicated that RP5063 could improve these measures as a stand-alone therapy. The latest study showed that it worked even better as a combo therapy.

Subcutaneous Remodulin (treprostinil), marketed by United Therapeutics, is to be safe and effective for at least 12 months in patients with congenital heart disease-related pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH), an observational study found. The study, “Subcutaneous treprostinil in congenital heart disease-related pulmonary arterial hypertension,” was published in the…

Treatment with Tracleer (bosentan) is effective in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a new review study and analysis of data from clinical trials shows. The research, “Bosentan Therapy for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: A Systemic Review and…

AIT Therapeutics has acquired a global, exclusive license from NitricGen for a new nitric oxide (NO) delivery system that may benefit newborns with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Under terms of the deal for the system, called eNOGenerator, AIT will pay NitricGen a total of $2 million in up-front, clinical and regulatory milestone payment.

French scientists have identified antibodies that appear to increase the risk of a poor outcome in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients with lupus and others they believe improve patients’ survival. Anti-SSA/SSB antibodies are a risk factor in PAH patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, while anti-U1-RNP antibodies are associated with a…

Important research findings, therapy advances, and other events related to pulmonary hypertension were reported daily in Pulmonary Hypertension News during 2017. Now that the year is over, it’s time to briefly review the articles that appealed most to our readers. Here are the Top 10 most-read articles of 2017, with a brief description of…