A small molecule called microRNA-224-5p (miR-224) appears to play an important role in the changes to the lung blood vessels that occur in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Researchers found that miR-224 levels were higher in cells from people with PAH and in several animal models, and that increasing miR-224 worsened the disease. In contrast, blocking miR-224 reduced abnormal blood vessel changes and improved right heart function in mice and rats. The researchers believ

In 2025, the USA announced that it would “end global freeloading” of drug prices, reporting that despite having less than 5% of the world’s population, US citizens pay so much more for their drugs that they make up about ¾ of worldwide pharmaceutical profits. Canadians, along with people from other countries, have paid less—sometimes much less—for our drugs because pharmaceutical companies could get a good return on their research investments from the USA. The “Most Favoured

Researchers found that pre-treating pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients with dual therapy before they underwent balloon pulmonary angioplasty was associated with lower complications and better clinical outcomes, compared to mono therapy. Read the CHEST article

Infusion pump technology for subcutaneous prostacyclin analog therapy has improved, with improved user experiences, simplified priming processes, easier filling, capability for lower doses, and better safety alerts and alarms. This may allow more pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients to safely manage and benefit from subcutaneous prostacyclin analogs. Read the Advances in Therapy commentary

Secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) levels were higher in patients with PAH, and SPP1 levels were associated with disease severity. Patients who had postpartum adverse events had higher SPP1 concentrations. SPP1 may act as a predictor of adverse postpartum events for people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), along with other clinical indicators. Read the European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology article

A survey of 200 people in the United States living with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) found that 85% had never discussed palliative care with their healthcare provider, even though nearly nine in 10 said they would feel comfortable doing so. Many participants mistakenly thought palliative care was only for end-of-life care, highlighting the need for better conversations so people understand how it can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life throughout their i

This study found that endoplasmic reticulum stress in lung blood vessels may contribute to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) by triggering pyroptosis and damaging blood vessels. In rats, blocking this process reduced blood vessel damage and slowed the development of PAH. Read the Journal of the American Heart Association article

Back in March, we noted that Gossamer Bio’s phase 3 clinical trial of seralutinib (a drug for pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease) didn’t meet its primary endpoint, causing a steep drop in its stock price. The study had some promising results: it showed a potentially good response to seralutinib, but some locations had an unusually good response to the placebo, which may have affected the analysis. Despite the s

Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension who took ralinepag in addition to their usual treatment were less likely to have their disease get worse than those who took a placebo. However, more people stopped taking ralinepag because of side effects. Read the Lancet article

Functional disability, but not chronic disease category or chronic pain, was independently associated with lower social support. Social isolation among Canadian adults is more closely associated with functional limitations than with diagnostic labels, underscoring the importance of function-focused approaches in research and intervention. Read the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Journal article

Only 29% of physicians can share patient information outside their practice. Less than half (47%) of Canadians have accessed their own electronic health records. This disconnect has real consequences: duplicated tests, delayed diagnoses, and prescriptions without a full picture. Bill S-5 can help fix this: It prohibits practices that lock patient information in systems that can’t communicate with each other. It requires common standards for health information sharing. This le

July 24 is International Self-Care Day There is a lot of information out there about the importance of self-care. Self-care is a buzzword that often gets thrown out and there are a lot of misconceptions about what it is and what it isn’t. As the Canadian Mental Health Association outlines, self-care is the act of caring for ourselves to enhance our well-being. Often what comes to mind when we think of this is spa days, or meditation, or going for a massage. While these can al

When I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension in December 2018, I was too sick to try any other medicine than the IV pump. And though it saved my life and gifted me with a few more precious years, I can’t help but think about the circumstances that allowed for that solution to be sustainable, at least for a little while. I lived with someone. I had family close by. I had dexterity in my limbs and the mental function to handle the logistics of everything that came with the

Researchers looked at smartphone data from 109 participants in the UK. Software was trained to distinguish idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (IPAH) and did so correctly at least 75% of the time. This suggests metrics from wearable tech can complement traditional risk assessment and may support earlier PAH detection. Read the NPJ Cardiovascular Health article

If you’re in central Canada, chances are you’re feeling the heat, as cities hit all-time record high temperatures. The Heart and Stroke Foundation reminds people with heart conditions, such as Type 2 PH, and those taking diuretics or calcium channel blockers, that heat can be particularly dangerous for them. The job of diuretics, of course, is to get rid of fluid, so in extreme heat, this may lead to dehydration. And because they relax arteries, calcium channel blockers may l

This press release reports that over the 12 months of their Expanded Access Program enrolling ten patients, the majority of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension who completed treatment with drug candidate CS1 maintained or improved their functional and biomarker status, and that CS1 showed a favourable safety and tolerability profile. A Phase IIb trial for CS1 begins this summer. Read the Cereno Scientific press release

July is Disability Pride Month The current design of the Disability Pride flag (shown as this post's image) dates from 2021, and each element has a meaning: All six flag colors: Disability spans borders between nations Black background: Mourning for victims of ableist violence and abuse Diagonal Band: Cutting across the walls and barriers that separate disabled people from society Red Stripe: Physical disabilities Gold Stripe: Neurodivergence White Stripe: Invisible and undia

Clinical trials for sotatercept didn't include children, so any pediatric use is off-label. This study, conducted at one children's hospital in San Diego, evaluated sotatercept in 7 pediatric patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension who were already on triple therapy. A majority of patients had favourable hemodynamics trends, supporting the need for official pediatric studies. Read the Pediatric Cardiology article

PHA Canada was delighted to note Dr. Stephen Archer’s name in a list of Order of Canada appointees. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada on June 26. As the Governor General’s website says, “Stephen Archer is an internationally acclaimed cardiologist. His seminal discoveries in pulmonary arterial hypertension and its underlying mechanisms have led to novel therapies and improved patient care. He has influenced important health care initiatives, including the creati

On June 29, along with our partner organization Scleroderma Canada and many others, we mark World Scleroderma Day. Scleroderma is a progressive autoimmune disorder that causes skin and internal organs to harden and thicken. It can cause scarring in the lungs and in the arteries of the lungs, affecting oxygen absorption. Each year about 1% of people with scleroderma develop pulmonary arterial hypertension, so there are many people with both scleroderma and pulmonary hypertensi