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…
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As anyone affected by a rare disease knows, treating the illness while trying to go about everyday life is an expensive undertaking. But exactly how expensive — in terms of direct and indirect costs across rare disease populations — might still come as a surprise: almost…
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…
The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) has published a guide to educate healthcare providers and parents on persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). The goal, the PHA said, is to help identify the disease right away, so as to start early treatment to prevent complications for the baby.
VeriSIM Life has opened PulmoSIM Therapeutics, its pharmaceutical subsidiary focused on developing treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), before moving to other rare respiratory diseases. “We are thrilled to announce the launch of PulmoSIM as it demonstrates the indefinite capabilities of the VeriSIM’s…
Experts will discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected people living with pulmonary hypertension and other rare respiratory diseases during a live panel discussion this week. The event, taking place on Tuesday, March 23, at 7 p.m. CET (2 p.m. EST), is being put on by the European…
Acute pulmonary hypertension (aPH) is frequent and linked with a higher risk of mortality in people who are severely ill with COVID-19, according to a Swedish study. The study, “Acute pulmonary hypertension and short-term outcomes in severe Covid-19 patients needing intensive care,” 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…
Although pregnancy should be avoided by women with severe pulmonary hypertension (PH), close monitoring by a multidisciplinary team may make it possible in those with moderate PH, a study from China suggests. The study “Long-term outcomes of pregnant women with pulmonary hypertension diagnosed by echocardiography: a…
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) occurs in 60% of children with the heart defect known as patent ductus arteriosus, with girls being more likely to develop PH than boys, a study found. A child with patent ductus arteriosus has an opening, or duct, between two major blood vessels leading from the…
Intravenous use of Uptravi (selexipag) is safe and well-tolerated by pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients temporarily unable to take this therapy as an oral tablet, a trial found. Patients reported mild side effects from the switch, with the most frequent being common to both oral and intravenous delivery of Uptravi. The…
Many diseases have their own awareness color — breast cancer is pink, muscular dystrophy is green, and AIDS is red, for example — but what’s the significance of pink, green, blue, and purple lights side-by-side? These are the colors most often used to represent Rare Disease Day. This…
