scholarly journals Principles of pharmacological correction of pulmonary arterial hypertension

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikhail Korokin ◽  
Nina I. Zhernakova ◽  
Liliya Korokina ◽  
Olga Pokopejko

Definition and classification: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a group of life-threatening progressive diseases of various genesis, characterized by a progressive increase in arterial pressure (AP) in the pulmonary artery (PA), the remodeling of pulmonary vessels, which leads to an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary arterial pressure and more often leads to right ventricular heart failure and premature death. Pulmonary hypertension is clinically divided into five groups: patients in the first group have idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), whereas in patients of other groups secondary PH associated with cardiopulmonary or other systemic diseases is observed. The development of secondary LH is caused by congenital heart defects, collagenoses, presence of thrombus in the pulmonary artery, prolonged high pressure in the left atrium, hypoxemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPDs). In case of secondary PH, thrombosis and other changes in the pulmonary veins occur. Ways of pharmacological correction of pulmonary hypertension: Over the last decade pharmacotherapy of PH has been developing rapidly, and the introduction of modern methods of treatment, especially for primary PAH, has led to positive results. However, despite the progress in treatment, the functional limitations and survival of patients remain unsatisfactory. Currently, there are two levels of treatment for pulmonary hypertension: primary and specific pathogenetic therapies. Primary therapy is aimed at the main cause of PH. It also includes supportive therapy. Pathogenetic therapy includes prostanoids, endothelin receptor antagonists, and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. Tactics of therapy can be established on the basis of either clinical classification, or functional class. Prostanoids are a promising group of drugs for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), since they possess not only vasodilating, but also antiplatelet and antiproliferative actions. Therefore, it seems logical to use prostacyclin and its analogs to treat patients with various forms of PAH.

Author(s):  
George K Istaphanous ◽  
Andreas W Loepke

Pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by a pathologically elevated pulmonary artery pressure in children. The etiology of PAH is multifactorial, and while its prognosis is closely related to the reversibility of the underlying disease process, much progress has recently been made in its diagnosis and treatment, significantly decreasing the associated morbidity and mortality.


2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregorio Miguel Pérez-Peñate ◽  
Iñigo Rúa-Figueroa ◽  
Gabriel Juliá-Serdá ◽  
Fernándo León-Marrero ◽  
Antonio García-Quintana ◽  
...  

Objective.Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) prevalence has been reported to be between 0.5% and 17% in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study assessed PAH prevalence and predictors in an SLE cohort.Methods.The Borg dyspnea scale, DLCO, N-terminal pro–brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and Doppler echocardiographic (DE) were performed. An echocardiographic Doppler exercise test was conducted in selected patients. When DE systolic pulmonary arterial pressure was ≥ 45 mmHg or increased during exercise > 20 mmHg, a right heart catheterization was performed. Hemodynamic during exercise was measured if rest mean pulmonary arterial pressure was < 25 mmHg.Results.Of the 203 patients with SLE, 152 were included. The mean age was 44.9 ± 12.3 years, and 94% were women. Three patients had known PAH. The algorithm diagnosed 1 patient with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and 5 with exercise-induced pulmonary artery pressure increase (4 with occult left diastolic dysfunction). These patients had significantly more dyspnea, higher NT-proBNP, and lower DLCO.Conclusion.These data confirm the low prevalence of PAH in SLE. In our cohort, occult left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was a frequent diagnosis of unexplained dyspnea. Dyspnea, DLCO, and NT-proBNP could be predictors of pulmonary hypertension in patients with SLE.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan José Rodriguez-Arias ◽  
Ana García-Álvarez

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) includes multiple diseases that share as common characteristic an elevated pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular involvement. Sex differences are observed in practically all causes of PH. The most studied type is pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) which presents a gender bias regarding its prevalence, prognosis, and response to treatment. Although this disease is more frequent in women, once affected they present a better prognosis compared to men. Even if estrogens seem to be the key to understand these differences, animal models have shown contradictory results leading to the birth of the estrogen paradox. In this review we will summarize the evidence regarding sex differences in experimental animal models and, very specially, in patients suffering from PAH or PH from other etiologies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Seiya Tanaka ◽  
Fuko Kawahara ◽  
Taro Miyamoto ◽  
Satoshi Tsurusaki ◽  
Yoshihito Sanuki ◽  
...  

A 56-year-old woman was diagnosed as having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with heavy smoking. Mild pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary arterial pressure: 31 mmHg) was detected at the first visit. She was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension due to pulmonary disease and medicated only with bronchodilators. Simultaneous, multiple freckling in the trunk of her body and café au lait macules in her back with some cutaneous neurofibromas were also detected. A plastic surgeon removed one of the neurofibromas and pathologically diagnosed it as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). We finally rediagnosed her with pulmonary hypertension with unclear and/or multifactorial factors when she deteriorated 1 year after being treated only with bronchodilators. We then administrated upfront combination therapy with macitentan and tadalafil. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure rapidly improved. Learning Objective. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) can occur due to lung disease or due to certain involvement of pulmonary arteries, or a combination of both. Increased awareness of PAH in NF1 is very important for patients survival. The current therapeutic strategy is almost identical to that of idiopathic PAH; however, there is no clinical evidence. Insights gained from clinical experiences should help identify promising novel therapeutic approaches in NF1-PAH.


Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 127 (7) ◽  
pp. 820-828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor R. Gordeuk ◽  
Oswaldo L. Castro ◽  
Roberto F. Machado

Abstract Pulmonary hypertension affects ∼10% of adult patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), particularly those with the homozygous genotype. An increase in pulmonary artery systolic pressure, estimated noninvasively by echocardiography, helps identify SCD patients at risk for pulmonary hypertension, but definitive diagnosis requires right-heart catheterization. About half of SCD-related pulmonary hypertension patients have precapillary pulmonary hypertension with potential etiologies of (1) a nitric oxide deficiency state and vasculopathy consequent to intravascular hemolysis, (2) chronic pulmonary thromboembolism, or (3) upregulated hypoxic responses secondary to anemia, low O2 saturation, and microvascular obstruction. The remainder have postcapillary pulmonary hypertension secondary to left ventricular dysfunction. Although the pulmonary artery pressure in SCD patients with pulmonary hypertension is only moderately elevated, they have a markedly higher risk of death than patients without pulmonary hypertension. Guidelines for diagnosis and management of SCD-related pulmonary hypertension were published recently by the American Thoracic Society. Management of adults with sickle-related pulmonary hypertension is based on anticoagulation for those with thromboembolism; oxygen therapy for those with low oxygen saturation; treatment of left ventricular failure in those with postcapillary pulmonary hypertension; and hydroxyurea or transfusions to raise the hemoglobin concentration, reduce hemolysis, and prevent vaso-occlusive events that cause additional increases in pulmonary pressure. Randomized trials have not identified drugs to lower pulmonary pressure in SCD patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension. Patients with hemodynamics of pulmonary arterial hypertension should be referred to specialized centers and considered for treatments known to be effective in other forms of pulmonary arterial hypertension. There have been reports that some of these treatments improve SCD-related pulmonary hypertension.


1995 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Davis ◽  
U. Mehlhorn ◽  
G. A. Laine ◽  
S. J. Allen

Left ventricular dysfunction has been reported in both experimentally induced and clinical pulmonary hypertension. However, the mechanism by which pulmonary hypertension causes left ventricular dysfunction is unknown. We hypothesized that acute pulmonary hypertension causes left ventricular myocardial interstitial edema and that it is this edema that causes left ventricular dysfunction. In pulmonary artery-banded or sham-operated dogs, left ventricular diameter (septal-free wall axis) and pressure were measured using sonomicrometry crystals and a micromanometer, respectively. These measurements were used to calculate preload recruitable stroke work (PRSW), an index of contractility, and the rate of active relaxation (tau) to assess systolic and diastolic left ventricular function, respectively. After 3 h of pulmonary arterial hypertension or control, the dogs were killed and the left ventricles were excised to determine wet-to-dry weight ratios. The wet-to-dry weight ratios were significantly higher in the pulmonary artery-banded dogs (3.57 +/- 0.12) than in the sham-operated dogs (3.41 +/- 0.17). PRSW decreased to 56.8 +/- 30.3% of control after 3 h of pulmonary hypertension. tau Slowed significantly from 29.8 +/- 5.8 ms at baseline to 63.6 +/- 30.4 ms after 3 h of pulmonary arterial hypertension. There were no differences in PRSW or tau in the sham-operated dogs. We conclude that pulmonary hypertension causes left ventricular myocardial interstitial edema, which results in both systolic and diastolic left ventricular dysfunction.


2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 1390-1396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svenja L. Tiede ◽  
Henning Gall ◽  
Oliver Dörr ◽  
Marina dos Santos Guilherme ◽  
Christian Troidl ◽  
...  

This study aimed to determine whether the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members soluble VEGF receptor 1 (also called soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1)) and placental growth factor (PlGF) could be used as biomarkers for pulmonary hypertension (PH).Consecutive patients undergoing right heart catheterisation were enrolled (those with mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥25 mmHg were classed as having PH; those with mean pulmonary arterial pressure <25 mmHg acted as non-PH controls). Plasma from the time of PH diagnosis was analysed for PlGF and sFlt-1 using enzyme immunoassays.In total, 247 patients with PH were enrolled: 62 with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), 14 with associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (APAH), 21 with collagen vascular disease (CVD), 26 with pulmonary venous hypertension, 67 with lung disease-associated PH and 57 with chronic thromboembolic PH. The non-PH control group consisted of 40 patients. sFlt-1 plasma levels were significantly higher in patients with IPAH, APAH, CVD and lung disease-associated PH versus controls; PlGF levels were significantly higher in all PH groups versus controls. The combination of sFlt-1 and PlGF resulted in a sensitivity of 83.7% with specificity of 100% for pulmonary arterial hypertension. There was no association between sFlt-1 or PlGF and haemodynamic parameters, 6-min walking distance or survival.In summary, PlGF and sFlt-1 are promising diagnostic biomarkers for PH.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 514-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasper Hasseriis Andersen ◽  
Claus Bøgelund Andersen ◽  
Finn Gustafsson ◽  
Jørn Carlsen

Pulmonary vascular arterial remodeling is an integral and well-understood component of pulmonary hypertension (PH). In contrast, morphological alterations of pulmonary veins in PH are scarcely described. Explanted lungs (n = 101) from transplant recipients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) were analyzed for venous vascular involvement according to a pre-specified, semi-quantitative grading scheme, which categorizes the intensity of venous remodeling in three groups of incremental severity: venous hypertensive (VH) grade 0 = characterized by an absence of venous vascular remodeling; VH grade 1 = defined by a dominance of either arterialization or intimal fibrosis; and VH grade 2 = a substantial composite of arterialization and intimal fibrosis. Patients were grouped according to clinical and hemodynamic characteristics in three groups: COPD non-PH, COPD-PH, and IPAH, respectively. Histological specimens were examined by a cardiovascular pathologist blinded to clinical and hemodynamic data. Pathological alterations of pulmonary veins were present in all hemodynamic groups, with the following incidences of VH grade 0/1/2: 34/66/0% in COPD non-PH; 19/71/10% in COPD-PH; and 11/61/28% in IPAH. In COPD, explorative correlation analysis of venous remodeling suggested a modest positive correlation with systolic and mean pulmonary artery pressure ( P = 0.032, respectively) and an inverse modest correlation with diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide ( P = 0.027). In addition, venous remodeling correlated positively with the degree of arterial remodeling ( P = 0.014). In COPD-PH and IPAH, advanced forms of pulmonary venous remodeling are present, emphasizing that the disease is not exclusively restricted to arterial lesions. In addition, venous remodeling may be related to the hemodynamic severity, but more rigorous analysis is required to clearly define potential relationships.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahram Ghasemzadeh ◽  
Bahador Azizi ◽  
Simin Azemati ◽  
Mostafa Bagherinasab

Anesthetized patient management for pediatric patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a major challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of dexmedetomidine to reduce pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension undergoing cardiac surgery. Sixty-six patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension underwent the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: group D received a dexmedetomidine injection in a dose of 1 μg/kg in the first hour and then decreased to 0.5 μg/kg/hr, injection continued after surgery until extubation in the post-anesthetic care unit (PACU). Group C received normal saline 0.9% in a similar volume. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and systemic systolic blood pressure (SSBP) were recorded during and after the surgery in the postanesthetic care unit. Needing vasodilators, sedatives, extubation time, and the length of ICU stay were recorded for all patients. Patients in the dexmedetomidine group showed a significant reduction in Pulmonary artery systolic pressure and Pulmonary artery systolic pressure/systemic systolic blood pressure rates during surgery and during the first 24 hours in the post-anesthetic care unit (P<0.001). The dexmedetomidine group, in comparison with the control group, needed a significantly lower dose of a vasodilator (P<0.001) and a lower dose of sedation (P<0.001). It is concluded that the use of dexmedetomidine during the surgery in children with pulmonary hypertension reduces pulmonary artery systolic pressure during and after the surgery.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuichi Tamura ◽  
◽  
Hiraku Kumamaru ◽  
Kohtaro Abe ◽  
Toru Satoh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Since there was no previous report, we analyzed the relationship between French Risk Stratification parameters in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and mean pulmonary arterial pressures (mPAP) using Japan PH Registry (JAPHR) national-wide cohort. Methods We enrolled 108 patients with PAH from JAPHR from previous reported cohort and analyzed the relations between French Risk Stratification scores and hemodynamic improvements. Results The ratio meeting 0 to 4 French Risk Stratification score was 21.3%, 31.5%, 32.4%, 13.0%, and 1.9% at baseline, and 6.5%, 23.2%, 33.3%, 23.2%, 13.9% at follow-up, respectively. The improvements in the number of criteria met were associated both with mPAP at follow-up (p = 0.03) and with the improvements in mPAP (p < 0.001). Conclusion The improvements in French Risk Stratification may become a marker of improved hemodynamics including mPAP.


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