Magdalena Kegel,  —

Drugs chronically blocking the vasopressin type 2 receptor (V2R), such as tolvaptan, may harm people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) by contributing to the remodeling of lung blood vessels, according to a new study. The study, “Detrimental Impact of Vasopressin V2 Receptor Antagonism in a SU5416/Hypoxia/Normoxia-Exposed Rat Model of…

Recent advances made, and insights gained, in clinical and preclinical research into pulmonary hypertension were highlighted in a Clinical Year in Review article published in the journal European Respiratory Review. The article, “Pulmonary hypertension,”  offers hope that pulmonary hypertension might become a well-managed, and potentially even…

A systematic review of clinical trial data showed that exercise training improves exercise capacity and the quality of life in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The study concluded that exercise training should, like medications, be a recommended treatment for PAH. The study, “Effects of Exercise…

Chinese researchers identified a number of risk factors for the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients under maintenance peritoneal dialysis — and demonstrated that the highest risks were associated with the proportion of arteriovenous fistula, C-reactive protein levels (a measure of inflammation), and ejection fraction measured in the dialysis patients. Researchers with …

A recent Japanese study suggested that it might be more advantageous to combine sildenafil with ambrisentan than with bosentan as a therapy for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Researchers found that bosentan reduced the concentration of sildenafil in the plasma when the drugs were taken together, while sildenafil combined with ambrisentan…

Prostacyclin analogs have substantially improved pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) treatment, but the use of these drugs is hampered by the difficulties and risks of treating patients with continuous intravenous infusions. A new overview highlighted the development of oral prostacyclins, focusing on the drug treprostinil (Orenitram). The overview was published under the…

People newly diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are at greater risk of disease progression than PAH patients sick for more than six months, a finding that highlights the importance of early treatment, researchers reported. Their study, “Incident and prevalent cohorts with pulmonary arterial hypertension: insight from SERAPHIN“, was published in the…

A study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham showed that the immune receptor TLR4 is important for regulating the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Mice lacking the gene for TLR4 spontaneously developed PAH, indicating a protective role for the immune factor. Chronic hypoxia — low levels of oxygen —…

A case report from Texas Children’s Hospital described a 5-year-old boy with a newly identified mutation in the BMP9 gene leading to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Many PAH cases are associated with genetic mutations, most frequently in the immune-related TGF-beta signaling pathways. BMP9 – also known as GDF2 – belongs…

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a common condition in infants undergoing surgery for congenital heart defects, and it is a main contributor to morbidity and death following surgery. For this reason, the drug iloprost is often given these infants after surgery, as it is known to induce blood vessel relaxation and decrease…

Targeting the nitric oxide deficiency resulting from pulmonary arterial hypertension through drugs such as sildenafil is a cornerstone of PAH treatment. A new study showed that sildenafil decreased the signs of oxidative stress by reducing hydroxynonenal (HNE) in patients, but was unable to lower elevated levels of free fatty acids in the blood. The results suggested…

A study reported that certain cells in the lungs act as sensors, linking the pulmonary and central nervous systems to regulate immune responses in reaction to environmental stimuli. The study, published in the journal Science, is entitled “Pulmonary neuroendocrine cells function as airway sensors to control lung immune response.” The…