Steve Bryson, PhD, science writer —

Older age and high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries raise the risk of complications with balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA), a second-line treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), a study suggested. If high blood pressure persists after surgery to remove the pulmonary arterial blood clots that cause…

Exposure to air pollutants significantly increased the risk of pulmonary hypertension (PH), according to a U.K. population study that included almost 500,000 people. Previous or current smoking increased PH risk and mortality even further, suggesting a synergistic relationship, the researchers noted. The large-scale study, “Dynamic association…

Persistent exercise intolerance in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients with treatment-related improvements in blood pressure was associated with impaired muscle function and strength, a study revealed. Because many of the study’s participants have lived with PAH for many years, muscle function may have been compromised, the researchers noted. Interventions…

Molecular differences are evident between infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) and those with severe BPD but not PH, a pilot study that used an integrated analysis of gene activity and protein production reported. PH is a common complication of BPD, a breathing disorder in…

Infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) who have blood type O responded better to inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) vasodilator therapy than those with other blood types, a small study reported. PPHN newborns with blood type A showed a similar response to type O newborns, while the…

Oral Uptravi (selexipag) provided similar clinical benefits for adults with connective tissue disease (CTD) associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) as for those without CTD, according to a health claims database analysis. PAH patients with CTDs treated with Uptravi in real-world settings had similar risks of disease progression…

Self-compassion, the act of being kind to oneself, was a significant predictor of anxiety and depression in adults with pulmonary hypertension (PH), a questionnaire-based study reported. Self-compassion also predicted the burden of those who care for patients. The findings suggest psychological and supportive interventions that build self-compassion are needed…

Researchers have identified a significant risk factor that affects the prognosis of people with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in a large 26-year study. They found that elevated left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP), a measure of left heart function, was common in patients and predicted worse outcomes. Pulmonary hypertension…

Adding sotatercept to standard therapies significantly improved the six-minute walking distance by more than 40 meters (131 feet) compared with a placebo among adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This finding met the primary goal of STELLAR, a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the impact of 24 weeks, or…

An investigational once-daily therapy, a single tablet combining macitentan and tadalafil, significantly improved pulmonary blood flow compared with macitentan or tadalafil alone in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients taking part in the Phase 3 A DUE study. Because these medications target different PAH-related pathways, current guidelines recommend initially treating…

Dozens of medicines with the potential to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients ill with COVID-19 were identified through computer analyses of the biological processes shared by both conditions, a pilot study reported. Disease-related features common to COVID-19 and PAH included inflammation, fibrosis (tissue scarring), hypoxia (low oxygen), immune responses,…

Genes associated with both pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and metabolic syndrome have been identified using computer software tools, a study reports. Metabolic syndrome, thought to promote PAH, is a cluster of conditions marked by high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol…