Patricia Inácio, PhD, science writer —

Scientists continue to research the various environmental and lifestyle risk factors associated with PAH. Now, new research is revealing additional clues into how a person’s own genetics can predispose them to developing the disease. A recent review entitled “Genetics of pulmonary hypertension” published in November issue…

A new study entitled “mTORC1 Is Involved in Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension Through the Activation of Notch3” published in Journal of Cellular Physiology reports that both mTORC1 and Notch3 signaling pathways are associated with Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension. In hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH), one of the…

A new study entitled “Improved survival of Korean patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension after the introduction of targeted therapies” published in August issue of the Heart & Lung journal reports targeted therapies for treatment of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) significantly improve IPAH patients’ survival. IPAH is a serious condition characterized by increased blood pressure in pulmonary arteries, frequently culminating in heart failure. Despite several approved treatments, IPAH currently has no cure, and treatments tend to treat symptoms of the disease rather than the underlying cause. Previously, IPAH conventional treatments included oxygen supplementation to fight the lack of oxygen due to pulmonary vaso constriction, anticoagulants to prevent vascular thrombosis associated with IPAH, as well as digoxin and diuretics. However, data concerning survival rates among IPAH patients who are prescribed these treatments are lacking in…

A new study, entitled “Frequency of Supraventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension” published in the American Journal of Cardiology reports that Supraventricular arrhythmias (SVAs) are associated with a higher risk of death in patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension, and restoration of…

New research suggests administering molecular Hydrogen, an antioxidant, orally via Hydrogen water may offer therapeutic value to Pulmonary Hypertension patients. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a condition caused by increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries. In advanced cases, its symptoms (shortness of breath, tiredness, chest pain) worsen and may limit…

A team of scientists recently reported that patients with both pulmonary arterial hypertension and congenital heart disease (PAH-CHD) exhibit Quality of Life (QoL) scores significantly lower when compared to patients with stable PAH. The data were presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Annual Congress. For this study,…

A new study published in the September issue of BMC Pulmonary Medicine reports that pulmonary hypertension is among the main lung diseases associated with non specific pattern (NSP), a condition characterized by normal total lung capacity (TLC) but an increased residual volume (RV). The study is entitled “Non…

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a disease that is closely associated with Pulmonary Hypertension. According to the Scleroderma Society, “about 1 in 10 people with systemic sclerosis (systemic scleroderma) can go on to develop pulmonary hypertension,” due to the fact that SSc leads to the thickening of the pulmonary…

A new study published in September’s issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, entitled, “The Sphingosine Kinase 1 / Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Pathway in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension” reports the discovery of two novel therapeutic targets to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. Pulmonary arterial hypertension…

A new study published in August’s issue of Cardiovascular Research, entitled “Ranolazine prevents INaL enhancement and blunts myocardial remodeling in a model of pulmonary hypertension” suggests ranolazine (RAN) as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of PAH pathology. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a result of…

Findings collected during more than two years confirming the safety and efficacy of Bayer’s Adempas® (riociguat) in treating either inoperable or persistent/recurrent chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), and patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were recently presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress. Riociguat is the first member of…