IPAH Patients’ Survival Rates Higher When Treated With Targeted Therapies
A new study entitled “Improved survival of Korean patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension after the introduction of targeted therapies” published in August issue of the Heart & Lung journal reports targeted therapies for treatment of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) significantly improve IPAH patients’ survival. IPAH is a serious condition characterized by increased blood pressure in pulmonary arteries, frequently culminating in heart failure. Despite several approved treatments, IPAH currently has no cure, and treatments tend to treat symptoms of the disease rather than the underlying cause. Previously, IPAH conventional treatments included oxygen supplementation to fight the lack of oxygen due to pulmonary vaso constriction, anticoagulants to prevent vascular thrombosis associated with IPAH, as well as digoxin and diuretics. However, data concerning survival rates among IPAH patients who are prescribed these treatments are lacking in…