Patricia Inácio, PhD, science writer —

Loss of a hormone called secretin (SCT) induces hypertension, scarring, and structural alterations in the heart and lungs, a study in mice reports. The study “Loss of secretin results in systemic and pulmonary hypertension with cardiopulmonary pathologies in mice” was published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports, and…

Halting a protein called Slug may help reduce the severity of increased blood pressure related to lung scarring — a condition called pulmonary hypertension (PH) secondary to pulmonary fibrosis, or PF-PH, a new animal study shows. The study, “Histological hallmarks and role of Slug/PIP axis…

The vasodilator Adempas (riociguat) increases the ability of endothelial progenitor cells to halt vascular remodeling and enhance formation of new blood vessels in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), according to a new in vitro (in the lab) study. This may be particularly helpful for CTEPH patients…

Increasing levels of the receptor Nur77 in cells lining the blood vessels of patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) may help halt progression of the disease by enhancing the signaling of the BMPR2 gene, often mutated in PH, a study suggests. The study, “6-mercaptopurine, an agonist of Nur77, reduces…

In patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) with aortic stenosis — when the heart’s aortic valve fails to properly close/open — undergoing a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) surgical procedure resulted in fewer cardiac, respiratory and bleeding complications, according to a new study. The study “The Outcomes…

Treatment for 12 weeks with Actelion Pharmaceuticals’ Opsumit (macitentan) significantly improved blood vessels’ resistance in patients with portopulmonary hypertension without causing further damage to the liver, data from the PORTICO Phase 4 trial show. The study, “Macitentan for the treatment of portopulmonary hypertension (PORTICO): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind,…

AIT Therapeutics has obtained a funding agreement that will raise $8 million through private investment in public equity (PIPE) financing to further development of its nitric oxide-based treatments for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, bronchiolitis, and nontuberculous mycobacteria. Nitric oxide (NO) is a strong vasodilator that opens blood vessels, and is…

AIT Therapeutics’ on-demand nitric oxide (NO) ventilator is safer for patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), and for healthcare workers, compared with standard NO cylinders, a study shows. The study’s results were highlighted in a poster titled “On-Demand Nitric Oxide for Ventilator-Based Nitric Oxide Inhalation: A Risk-Reduction…

The Pulmonary Hypertension Accelerated Bayer (PHAB) Awards, recently launched by Bayer US, will grant up to $1 million dollars for clinical research into pulmonary hypertension (PH). Spread over two years, the program, which is one of the largest industry-funded grant programs, will focus primarily on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)…

Survival rates of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) unable to undergo surgical treatment have significantly improved in recent years, a retrospective study has found. This suggests that minimally invasive balloon pulmonary angioplasty and other interventions implemented more recently can improve CTEPH patients’ prognoses. The study, “Predictors…

Certain parameters of poor heart function are risk factors for early death among idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) patients who undergo lung transplant, a small Chinese study suggests. The study, “Risk Analysis of Perioperative Death in Lung Transplant Patients With Severe Idiopathic Pulmonary Hypertension,” was published in the journal…

Levels of NT-proBNP can predict long-term outcomes and response to treatment with Uptravi (selexipag) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a post-hoc analysis of the Phase 3 GRIPHON trial shows. The study, “Association of NT-proBNP and Long-Term Outcome in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Insights from the Phase III…