Steve Bryson, PhD,  science writer—

Low birth weight has been linked to an increased risk of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in premature infants needing oxygen therapy for at least 28 days, an analysis revealed. Additionally, the failure, after birth, of the blood vessels of the heart to close — before birth, they’re normally open to…

A large proportion of Swedish children younger than 7 who were diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) started treatment with vasodilators before age 1, and almost all of those treated received Revatio (sildenafil) as a first therapy, according to an analysis of a nationwide prescription registry. Despite treatment, mortality…

Potential targets to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were identified by analyzing the gene activity of individual lung endothelial cells isolated from a mouse model of the disease. Study results were validated by cross-referencing them with rat and human gene activity datasets. “The identification of distinct molecular mechanisms and…

Seven long noncoding RNA molecules were found to be associated with the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in an early study in rats, scientists reported. The researchers noted that some of these RNAs are known to regulate immune and inflammatory response pathways, which may participate in PH. “Our study…

Using a healthcare cost model, researchers in the Netherlands found that an early diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) leads to substantial life expectancy and quality of life benefits at an “acceptable” price. Although greater healthcare costs were associated with an earlier diagnosis — primarily due to the…

Rare mutations in the ATP13A3 gene caused a severe inherited form of childhood-onset pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a case study of three families showed. These findings demonstrate the “growing importance” of genetic testing in patients with childhood-onset PAH, the scientists said, noting that the genetic basis of the disease…

AER-901, an inhaled formulation of imatinib being developed as a treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), has been granted orphan drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The investigational therapy was designed with the goal of reducing the side effects reported among PAH patients using an…

Routine blood screenings and non-invasive clinical tests may predict disease severity and mortality in people with pulmonary hypertension (PH), a study suggested. Specifically, the red blood cell distribution width (RDW) test, used in hematology laboratories to classify anemia, may help in assessing disease severity, while electrocardiographic ratios may predict…

The PAPi blood pressure test was able to accurately predict mortality in Asian people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a 14-year study revealed. Despite that finding, the multi-factor REVEAL score was found to still be the best predictor for mortality risk in PAH. “In our analysis, low PAPi was…

The likelihood of developing pulmonary hypertension (PH) is low among people in southern Italy, suggests a study that draws from a random and large grouping of individuals with echocardiograms, done to determine disease prevalence. Independent predictors of PH include female sex and right ventricular enlargement, its scientists noted. The study,…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted an updated application asking that the dry-powder inhalation therapy LIQ861 (treprostinil) be approved to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Liquidia Corporation, the therapy’s developer, first…

Altavant Sciences has opened ELEVATE 2, its global Phase 2b clinical trial into the safety and efficacy of rodatristat ethyl, a potential disease-modifying oral therapy for people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The…