Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) – or “bad cholesterol” – which is associated with an increased mortality risk, according to a new study. PAH treatment may increase LDL-C levels. The study, “Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol And Survival In Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension,”…

An international study to assess clinical practices in the diagnosis and management of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) found several differences in CTEPH management among regions, but also a gap between guideline procedures and real-life practice of diagnosis and treatment. The study, “An International Physician Survey of…

In a moderately sized group of patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (nsVT) occurred more often than previously reported, researchers said, and patients with PH group 1 seemed to be more at risk. Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia is an abnormally rapid ventricular rhythm, usually greater than 100 beats per…

The specific benefits of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) on the respiratory function of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) depends on what area of the lung, or lung field, the procedure is performed on, according to new research. This finding was published in the article “Effect Of Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty…

Actelion announced that a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating its pulmonary hypertension treatment, macitentan, in patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) has met its primary endpoint. At week 16, treatment resulted in a significant reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) compared to placebo. MERIT is a 24-week, randomized and…

Patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) who are successfully treated with pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) may be at increased risk of having low levels of oxygen in the blood due to severe pulmonary arteriopathy, a condition characterized by pulmonary artery remodeling, according to a study from Chiba University in Japan. The…

Recently published data from the CHEST-2 clinical trial showed that riociguat (Adempas) is both safe and effective as a longer term treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The study also identified two predictive biomarkers distinguishing CTEPH and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and their concentrations serve as prognostic guides of…

Researchers at the Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan demonstrated that the endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan can improve endothelial dysfunction parameters in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but not in patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The findings were published in the Pulmonary…

Riociguat treatment administered at steady state (2.5 mg, three times a day) to women with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) did not alter the effectiveness of oral contraceptives or make their use unsafe, researchers reported. The study, “Pharmacokinetic interaction study between riociguat and the combined oral contraceptives levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol in…

Bayer is presenting six abstracts on studies investigating riociguat for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) at the 2016 American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference now taking place in San Francisco, California. Riociguat (BAY 63-2521, trade name Adempas) is a stimulator of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). It is indicated for the treatment…

Bayer Pharmaceuticals announced it is terminating a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of riociguat in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. The decision was based on a recommendation from the trial’s Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), and enrolled patients will be monitored closely after treatment cessation, and…

Quality of life is an important measure of patient health and treatment effectiveness, but often overlooked in people with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). A review of such measurements in this patient group found plenty of room for improvement both in tools selected and their use — and called for more research on the…