Steve Bryson, PhD, science writer —

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…

Enrollment is now complete in REBUILD, a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating INOpulse, an investigational treatment for people with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) who are at risk of developing pulmonary hypertension (PH). According to the therapy’s developer, Bellerophon Therapeutics, the trial’s enrollment was completed earlier than expected. As…

Two new biomarkers to assess pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were discovered through large-scale analysis of gene activity profiles using computer software, a study reported. These biomarkers, the activity of the genes PNISR and HNRNPH1, may help diagnose PAH, monitor its progression, or measure responses to therapy. They also may highlight…

The identified cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients seen at a specialized care center differed substantially from national registry data, a study revealed. Most care center patients were diagnosed with PAH associated with connective tissue disorders and exposure to toxins, whereas idiopathic PAH (IPAH), of unknown cause,…

Cigarette smoking in men newly diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was associated with a faster time to in-patient hospitalization and death after diagnosis, according to an analysis of the REVEAL study in the U.S. More men smoked than women, and ever-smoking status (someone who has been a cigarette…