Steve Bryson, PhD, science writer —

Elevated metabolites of the kynurenine pathway in the bloodstream of people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) when they’re diagnosed predicted disease severity, their response to therapy, and survival, a study discovered. Activation of the kynurenine pathway, related to vitamin B3 production, was found to be linked to…

Higher levels of the metal antimony were found in the bloodstream of adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) than those without the condition, a pilot study reported. Elevated antimony levels also correlated with higher blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries and reduced heart function. The pilot study, “Plasma…

Hyaluronic acid, a major component of the extracellular matrix that supports cell function, directly contributes to the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) via pulmonary vascular remodeling, a preclinical study has found. By pharmacologically blocking the production of the substance in a PH mouse model, researchers were able to prevent…

Seralutinib (GB002), an investigational inhaled treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), effectively treated severe disease in two animal models, a study demonstrated. Further, when compared directly, inhaled seralutinib showed greater efficacy than imatinib, an approved cancer therapy also being investigated for PAH. Gossamer Bio, seralutinib’s developer, now is testing…

People with pulmonary hypertension (PH) who were diagnosed with COVID-19 had a high rate of hospitalization and in-hospital mortality, a French study concluded. Risk factors for adverse outcomes included being older, male, having co-existing conditions, or comorbidities, and having more severe PH. Anticoagulants (blood thinners) were the only treatment…

Sacubitril/valsartan, a fixed-dose combination oral therapy approved for heart failure, was found to improve right heart function and lower pulmonary blood pressure, according to a new pooled analysis of multiple studies. This meta-analysis supports a new therapeutic role for sacubitril/valsartan for people with pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with heart…

Switching from Tracleer (bosentan) to Opsumit (macitentan) improved physical abilities with fewer side effects in some adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a study showed. Replacing Tracleer with Opsumit may be a feasible treatment option in PAH patients who did not fully respond to Tracleer alone or…

The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) has launched the ISHLT Foundation, a new organization that will serve as ISHLT’s charitable arm to fund research grants and awards to improve patient care for advanced heart and lung diseases, including pulmonary hypertension (PH). In PH, high…

Maximum oxygen uptake measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) independently predicted long-term survival outcomes in people with pulmonary hypertension caused by left heart disease (PH-LHD), a study reported. Further studies with a larger number of these patients are needed to confirm the findings, the researchers noted. The study, “…

Tyvaso DPI, an investigational dry powder formulation of the vasodilator treprostinil, was equally safe and effective, and more convenient than the approved Tyvaso (inhaled treprostinil) nebulizer for people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), final results of the BREEZE study show. These findings may facilitate Tyvaso DPI’s use earlier in…

Newly revealed biological mechanisms that underlie the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) support activating BMPR2, the protein mutated in most familial PAH cases, as a treatment strategy, according to a study that investigated human cells and mouse models. A recent case series showed potential for the BMPR2-activator…

Supplemental long-term oxygen therapy is the only effective treatment for people with pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who have low blood oxygen, according to a systematic review of studies. Such long-term oxygen treatment “may mildly reduce severity of PH, slow PH progression over time,…