AHA’s Scholarly Journal Plans New Thematic Series Covering Advances in PH

The American Heart Association’s (AHA) journal Circulation has announced plans for a new thematic series on the recent advances in diagnosing and treating Pulmonary Hypertension (PH), in which an expert research team will present progress made in the research field for the disease. The topics in the series include patient care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic interventions, the use of noninvasive imaging for the assessment of pulmonary vascular-right ventricular function and the role of mechanical support for the failing right ventricle.

While PH is often grouped in with diseases of the lung, the association made the decision to launch the thematic series because pulmonary hypertension is a highly deadly disease — especially among pulmonary arterial hypertension patients — and because it is attributable to left heart disease, thromboembolic disease, and miscellaneous causes.

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The underlying cause of the PH is associated with a defining hemodynamic profile, which is studied and used by physicians to classify the disease. Therefore, research on hemodynamic profile, its classification and management has been crucial in advancing knowledge on pulmonary hypertension, including the pathobiology, clinical course and treatment outcomes for patients. Several clinical trials have recently been dedicated to demonstrating the efficacy of novel therapeutics, as well as improving cardiopulmonary treatment options.

In addition to discussing patient care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic interventions, noninvasive imaging for the evaluation of pulmonary vascular-right ventricular function and mechanical support for the failing right ventricle, the experts will also debate the case-studies of patients who physicians interact with while in practice. The series will address cases such as patients suffering from congenital heart disease, human immunodeficiency virus, or pulmonary hypertension developed as a consequence of exposure to high altitude.

The series will also offer a review of the most relevant end-points and their limitations currently being used in clinical trials in order to better understand and consider conclusions and findings that the association believes may be useful in the interpretation of previous studies as well as in the design of future trials.

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The revisions included in the series will include the clinical implications of recent translational advances regarding the treatment of PH patients in the fields of cellular metabolism, neurohumoral signaling, and sex hormones. The purpose of the series’ reviews is primarily to offer healthcare providers a state-of-the art perspective of diagnostic methods, therapy interventions, and an introduction to new methods of care provision to patients suffering from the disease.

The AHA has also recently released a major updated on the clinical classification of PH as part of the launch of the series, authored by the researchers Jonathan and Stuart Rich. The publication, which is available on the official journal of the association, Circulation, focuses on the diagnostic approach, as well as key features that need to be considered by physicians.