News

Researchers have identified two inflammation-related genes — SELE and CCL20 — whose activity could serve as diagnostic biomarkers for the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in people with COVID-19.

Further, the team also identified molecules that target these biomarkers as possible therapeutic approaches for managing the complication.

Overall, the findings offer “new insights into the prediction and treatment of COVID-19 complicated with PH in clinical practice,” the researchers wrote. read more

When I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in 1999, the subject of organ transplant was introduced almost immediately. Doctors explained to my parents that PH was terminal, and that transplant, usually of the heart and lungs, was an option for extending life.

For the next 14 years, transplant loomed as a worrisome but distant inevitability. After a thorough fight with PH, a decline in my health during my senior year of high school finally led my PH specialist to push me toward a transplant evaluation. read more

I’m often in awe of my body’s resilience.

Imagine this: The windows are wide open, a gentle breeze dances through the room, and warm Southern California sunshine filters through the blinds, casting patterns on the floor. On such days, amid the freshness of the air wafting inside, I find myself lost in thought.

As I flip through old seasons in my mind and scroll through memories on social media, I’m struck by the magnitude of the traumatic experiences I’ve weathered. At times, I was so out of it that I didn’t recognize my family and friends. Reflecting on those challenging times, I’m grateful my story was unfinished. God only knows how I made it through. Yet, here I am, still standing and breathing. I’m thankful for this resilient body of mine. read more

Reduced exercise capacity appeared to be a consequence of cardiac and pulmonary changes, but not skeletal muscle alterations, in rat models of pulmonary hypertension (PH), according to recent research.

While no functional problems with muscles could be observed despite obvious impairments in exercise capacity, significant cardiopulmonary dysfunction was already present.

“This study provides direct evidence showing reduced exercise capacity in PH occurs before skeletal muscle dysfunction and suggesting that intrinsic changes in skeletal muscle are not causative to exercise intolerance in PH,” the study’s researchers wrote in “Reduced exercise capacity occurs before intrinsic skeletal muscle dysfunction in experimental rat models of pulmonary hypertension,” which was published in Pulmonary Circulation. read more

The springtime is when I miss running the most — when the weather starts to warm a little and folks lace up their shoes, go outside, and get a boost of endorphins.

Save for one scary moment in 2021, I don’t run anymore. Not since I left the hospital in 2016 with a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH), a chronic, progressive disease that affects the heart and lungs. Sometimes living with PH feels like I’m a fish struggling to breathe out of water, which makes it difficult to compete in a 5K. I even refrain from running to catch the bus I take to and from work because of the shortness of breath and chest tightness that will result. Better to just wait for another one to roll by. read more

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has supported Inhibikase Therapeutics‘ Phase 2/3 trial of its experimental formulation of imatinib, called IkT-001Pro, for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), the company reports.

In a meeting, the FDA asked the company to complete a preclinical study in cells to compare IkT-001Pro to imatinib. Cardiovascular abnormalities have been reported with imatinib, a molecule that’s been explored for PAH. The FDA agreed Inhibikase had shown a connection between imatinib’s use in blood and gastrointestinal cancers and PAH, according to the company. read more

A noninvasive intervention that makes use of ultrasound to target the splenic nerve — a nerve in the spleen, an organ in which immune cells develop — was found to reduce inflammation and the severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in rat models of the disease, according to a new study.

The researchers say such use of ultrasound procedures may make for a new strategy for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.

“Our splenic-focused ultrasound stimulation research suggests a novel and promising approach for reducing inflammation and managing pulmonary hypertension,” Stavros Zanos, MD, PhD, co-author of the study at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, said in a press release. read more

Chiesi Group has reached an agreement with Gossamer Bio to develop and market seralutinib for certain types of pulmonary hypertension (PH).

The agreement seeks to support the therapy’s ongoing testing in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and to accelerate its development for pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD).

Seralutinib’s safety and efficacy are currently being evaluated in the Phase 3 PROSERA trial (NCT05934526), which is recruiting adults with PAH in the U.S. and many other countries. The study is expected to be completed next year. read more

As the temperature climbs, many of us are itching to soak up some sun and make memories with our loved ones. But if you have pulmonary hypertension (PH) like me, you may often feel too drained to fully enjoy those golden opportunities.

Are you torn between the desire to join in on family fun and the reality of your body’s limitations? You’re not in that boat alone.

In today’s whirlwind world, carving out quality time with family can feel like a quest for hidden treasure. Our calendars are packed, and we’re all chasing those rare moments of connection with our loved ones. However, navigating the stormy seas of PH and other rare or chronic diseases makes it even trickier to juggle daily life and to maintain relationships. read more

A diet poor in two amino acids called glutamine and serine may improve the health of pulmonary blood vessels and reduce the progression of pulmonary hypertension (PH), according to a recent study.

Specifically, researchers found that these amino acids are used by cells in blood vessels to produce other amino acids that are components of collagen, leading to vessel stiffening — a hallmark of PH. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.

“For the first time, we have a dietary maneuver that may serve as an effective therapy for the disease,” Stephen Chan, MD, PhD, professor at the University of Pittsburgh and senior author of the study, said in a university press release. read more