News

It was reported last month that the drug Sildenafil, popularly known as “Viagra,” an erectile dysfunction therapy for men, also revealed efficacy in treating those with pulmonary hypertension. However, for those with the disease who did not respond to sildenafil, a new, alliterative therapy may show promise, specifically for…

There is a basic difference between pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in adults and in children. In the former case, there are a wide range of causes that contribute to development of PAH, including thromoembolism, vascular obstruction, pulmonary insufficiency, alveolar hypoventilation, chronic lung disease, and other associated comorbidities (e.g.: systemic,…

It is commonly known that exercise capacity is impaired in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).  Thanks to a recent study, researchers were able to test a hypothesis on why this is the case, with the idea that perhaps cardiovascular reserve anomalies are in fact linked with an impaired hemodynamics response…

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a frequently encountered complication of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). PAH is also the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among SSc patients. Despite some progress in new detection methods, standard right heart catheterization still remains the most effective means of diagnosis of PAH with Systemic…

Scientists now believe that uric acid (UA) levels are a significant health consideration for PAH patients, as UA has been demonstrated to be elevated in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and heart failure.  Elevated UA levels have been linked with poor patient outcomes. According to recent research published…

Gregory Piazza, MD, clinical instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, presented the results of a single-arm, multi center trial that tested the efficacy of the EkoSonic endovascular system. 150 patients, all with proximal pulmonary embolism (PE) and a dilated right ventricle (RV/VL ratio ≥0.9) were examined using ultrasound-delivered,…

When diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions such as Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, clear, accurate, and reliable imaging of the heart and surrounding tissues is essential for achieving the best outcomes for patients. A new imaging technology for PAH and other related indications is currently moving its way through testing, and…

A group of researchers led by Dr. Sophie Grigoriadis, MD, PhD, head of the women’s mood and anxiety clinic at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center in Toronto, Canada, and associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto, performed a total of 7 meta-analyses based on available data resources, determining…

A novel dual endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA), Macitentan, (manufactured by Actelion pharmaceuticals) had been approved for use against Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) by the US FDA in October 2013. This came shortly after Actelion Pharma presented the results of its landmark clinical trial SERAPHIN (Study with Endothelin Receptor Antagonist…

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) involves progressive loss of lung function and ultimately fatal.  IPF  is characterized by scarring of lung tissue and is the cause of shortness of breath (dyspnea). The term “idiopathic”c means the disease has no known cause. The disease is known to cause permanent scarring of lung…

Several treatments have been developed for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) over the last two decades, with post-market studies reporting an improvement in the prognosis and progression of PAH with their use. However, reported survival rates have been unsatisfactory in western countries with respect current PAH therapies, while no reliable…

The Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH) in Plains, MT has put forth an impressive, new model for treating lung-related diseases through the launch of its new Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program in March, which seeks to serve patients with a wide range of diagnoses, including COPD, pulmonary hypertension, obesity-related lung disease, and sarcoidosis.