Vanda Pinto, PhD,  science writer—

Combination therapy — a treatment approach used to target multiple pathways involved in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) — improves hemodynamics (blood flow) in treatment-naïve patients, according to a new pooled analysis of several studies. A measure of the resistance to blood flow, called pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), decreased significantly…

Levels of the Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (WIF-1) protein were elevated in the blood of people with pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with left-sided heart failure, according to a new study. WIF-1 was linked with higher levels of NT-proBNP — a marker of heart failure — as well as several…

A research form of Keros Therapeutics’ investigational therapy KER-012, called RKER-012, reduced lung inflammation and scarring (fibrosis) in a rat model of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The therapy also prevented an increase in the levels of a heart damage marker, the company announced in a press release. The…

A mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) — blood pressure in the lungs — of less than 40 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) significantly increases the survival rate of patients with different subsets of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a study suggests. The successful outcome was achieved with an intensive therapeutic approach…

Depression and anxiety are common in people with pulmonary hypertension (PH), especially for those living in Asia, a review of 24 studies involving 2,161 participants has found. Researchers noted that “increased awareness amongst physicians regarding the vulnerability of PH patients to psychiatric conditions is key,” and that the “findings…

Identification of mutations in the ATP13A3 gene, which are associated with a severe form of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), led doctors to select a riskier treatment approach for a 21-year-old woman to prevent her symptoms from worsening, according to a case study. “Short-term follow-up is encouraging, and the patient…

The levels of Piezo1, an ion channel that senses membrane tension in cells, was found to be increased in the lung blood vessels of patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and in animal models of pulmonary hypertension (PH), a study says. Research showed that these higher levels…

Infusion with Ferinject (ferric carboxymaltose) safely treated people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and iron deficiency, easing disease symptoms, improving exercise capacity, and lowering their number of hospital visits over a period of 18 months, a long-term study reported. Ferinject, as this treatment for iron deficiency anemia is known…

Breathing oxygen-enriched air can significantly improve exercise performance in people with pulmonary hypertension (PH) linked to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), including those who might not use supplemental oxygen, according to a small clinical study. Better blood-oxygen levels and more efficient breathing (exchange of carbon dioxide and…

Higher levels of chloride in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) may contribute to the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) after exposure to low oxygen (hypoxia), a study in a rat model suggested. The study, “Increased intracellular Cl− concentration in pulmonary arterial myocytes is associated with chronic hypoxic…

Note: This story was updated Aug. 11, 2021, to clarify that the researchers are not affiliated with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Two new researchers at Virginia Tech will be focusing their studies on the mechanisms of heart and vascular diseases — including the role of RNA molecules…

A protein known as cell division cycle protein 2 (CDC2) enhances the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells — those lining the walls of lung arteries — in people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a study reported. Additionally, the increased level of CDC2 in these cells was found…