A study found that chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertensio (CTEPH) patients had significantly more of an antioxidant enzyme (peroxiredoxin 2, or PRDX2) in their bloodstream compared to healthy patients. Using rats, the researchers determined that PRDX2 helped reduce inflammation, suggesting that it has a protective role and might have therapeutic use. Read the Scientific Reports article

This study examined the causes of delayed diagnosis (diagnosis after approximately 22 months) of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and whether an earlier diagnosis (within six months) leads to better outcomes. They identified several factors associated with delayed diagnosis and found that earlier diagnosis and treatment were associated with better survival. Read the Pulmonary Circulation article

A relatively simple, inexpensive, and minimally invasive test for idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) would aid in the diagnosis of this disease. This study found that levels of the NOTCH3 extracellular domain (NOTCH3-ECD) shed into blood serum could be used as a biomarker for IPAH. They found that NOTCH3-ECD levels did correlate with the presence and severity of IPAH. Read the Nature Medicine article

As pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients became sicker, their self-reported quality of life was significantly worse than their doctors recognized. This discordance was associated both with worse health-related quality of life scores and a higher WHO functional class score, so the sickest patients had the least agreement with their doctors. The researchers note that "it's self-evident that providers cannot deliver optimal treatment strategies nor best outcomes if they

Looking at the racial and ethnic breakdown of patients with PAH and patients who take part in clinical trials, the authors conclude that the goal of equitable representation has not yet been reached. The article includes a useful table of potential barriers to inclusive clinical trials and potential solutions. Read the Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension article

Air pollution is known to be bad for heart and lung diseases, but this study looked at whether it affected pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in particular. They followed a cohort of patients for about three years and found that not only does exposure to high levels of air pollution increase the risk of death or lung transplantation for PAH patients, it made their pulmonary hypertension worse. People who lived in highly polluted areas were more likely to be categorized as.

A small study of patients with stable pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were randomly assigned to either no exercise program or an exercise program using kettlebells three days per week for 8 weeks. The kettlebell group had improved functional capacity, quality of life, and physical activity level, and reduced fatigue, dyspnea, anxiety and depression. Read the Respiratory Medicine article

A study found that people taking infused prostacyclin analogues for pulmonary hypertension had a significantly lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, an eye problem that causes vision loss in older adults. The protection was robust -- patients using systemic prostacyclin analogues were about 60% less likely to develop several types of age-related macular degeneration -- and the effect was sustained over time. Read the Eye article

For very preterm babies, inhaled nitric oxide in the first week of life seems to help both persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) and retinopathy. After the first week, though, inhaled nitric oxide wasn't associated with better outcomes. Inhaled nitric oxide could be reframed as multi-organ protection for very premature babies with PPHN. Read the Nature article

This study compared the costs of an 8-week centre-based pulmonary rehabilitation program to a virtual program. Costs and outcomes were...

Because a drug trial for another drug similar to sotatercept was stopped when it was found to be associated with pericardial effusion...

In chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), this study found that the cells lining blood vessels (the endothelium) are...

A study looked at 262 very premature babies diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension who were given inhaled nitric oxide. For babies whose...

In the body, variations in several genes were associated with a more than 20-fold increased risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension...

Other studies have shown a relationship between high levels of uric acid and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This study looked at...

This study looked at the challenges and impacts of non-oral treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), beyond those caused by...

Early use of dual therapy helps newly-diagnosed pulmonary arterial hypertension patients do as well as patients six months past...

Since the 1980s, treatment options for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) have increased. This study...

A very small (16 patients) phase 2a clinical trial for pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD) looked...

We know methamphetamine use is associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but this population's care needs haven't been...