Vanda Pinto, PhD, science writer —

People with stable pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) can safely switch from Tracleer (bosentan) to Letairis (ambrisentan) without compromising their heart function or general health status, a study from China reports. PAH patients in Hunan province may also benefit financially by moving from Tracleer to Letairis, as it…

A study of rare gene variants has identified two new candidates — fibulin 2 (FBLN2) and platelet-derived growth factor D (PDGFD) — that increase risk for adult-onset idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). In-depth genetic analyses also predicted that about 15% of IPAH cases in children are caused by de…

Trifluoperazine or TFP, an approved schizophrenia medication, also may be effective in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a preclinical study suggests. In rat models of PAH, trifluoperazine was found to provide therapeutic benefits — without causing detectable side effects. The study, “Preclinical Investigation of Trifluoperazine…

Intermediate-risk pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients may see their symptoms improve after switching from phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5i) to Adempas (riociguat), results from the Phase 4 REPLACE clinical trial show. The transition to Adempas also appears to be a safer option than with PDE-5i maintenance therapy. The study, “Switching…

Several proteins involved in vascular remodeling, metabolism, and oxidative stress are not properly regulated in endothelial cells from patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), a study found. The study, “Protein network analyses of pulmonary endothelial cells in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension,” was published in the journal…

Women who reach menopause prematurely — meaning before age 40 — are two times more likely to develop pulmonary hypertension (PH) than those who do not, a study found. Analysis of medical records covering over 150,000 women registered in the U.K. Biobank also showed that this risk was not associated…

A six-month exercise training program can significantly improve physical and psychological well-being in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), according to results of a new trial. The study, “Long-Term Effect of an Exercise Training Program on Physical Functioning and Quality of Life in Pulmonary Hypertension: A Randomized Controlled Trial,”…