News

Risk of Pulmonary Hypertension in Babies of Mothers Using Antidepressants at the End of Pregnancy is Low

A previous study identified an increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) in mothers taking the most prescribed class of antidepressant medications in the second half of pregnancy, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). As a result, in 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health advisory on a…

500th Lung Transplant Performed at UT Southwestern Medical Center

UT Southwestern Medical Center recently announced that it has performed its 500th lung transplant, placing it in an exclusive group that includes fewer than 25 American medical institutions. Lung transplantation is often the only option for patients who suffer from life-threatening conditions, such as pulmonary hypertension (PH) or cystic…

Researchers Identify Protein That Could Help Further Explore Metabolic and Inflammatory Theories Behind PAH Development

Two theories behind the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) converge on the protein known as the master transcription factor forkhead box O1 (FoxO1). Leaders in the field of PAH research are excited about the notion that addressing master transcription factors may integrate the metabolic and inflammatory theories behind PAH,…

PHA Supports PH Research With Over $15 Million In Grants

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA), the US’s leading fundraising and advocacy group for funding scientific research to discover new ways to prevent and cure pulmonary hypertension (PH), will celebrate its 25th Anniversary in 2016. In celebration of that milestone and to continue the fight against the disease, the PHA has announced that…

HRCT Predicts Lung Function Decline in SSc Patients

Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are at an increased risk for mortality due to concurrent pulmonary hypertension or interstitial lung disease. While pulmonary hypertension results in right-sided heart failure, interstitial lung disease results in extensive lung fibrosis. It may be possible to test for lung scarring using high resolution computed…

Bayer Finds Pulmonary Embolism Patients Are Not Adequately Screened for PH

Representatives from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals presented findings at the American Thoracic Society’s (ATS) 2015 International Conference that suggest pulmonary hypertension is more prevalent in patients with pulmonary embolisms than was previously thought. Although the rate may be at least twice as high as previously identified, many patients do not undergo the…