Antenor Rodrigues

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a serious disease that makes it difficult for people to breathe and be physically active. Although treatments have improved over the last several years, many people living with PAH continue to experience fatigue, muscle weakness, and shortness of breath that make everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, or playing with their children or grandchildren much more difficult.

A new treatment called sotatercept has recently been shown to improve exercise capacity in people with PAH. We know that it works by improving the health of the blood vessels in the lungs and increasing the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. However, recent studies suggest it may also have direct effects on the muscles throughout the body. We do not yet know how much of the improvement seen with this treatment comes from better oxygen delivery and how much comes from changes within the muscles themselves.

In this study, we will follow 15 people with PAH who are starting sotatercept as part of their regular medical care. Before they begin treatment and again six months later, we will measure how well they can exercise, how their muscles perform during exercise, and whether the muscles have changed in size and structure. By comparing these results, we hope to better understand how sotatercept affects muscle health and contributes to the improvements in exercise capacity seen with this treatment.

Most research on PAH focuses on the heart and lungs. Our study is different because it focuses on the muscles that people rely on every day to stay active and independent. The knowledge gained from this project could help improve future treatments and support better quality of life for people living with PAH.