Learning & research

In this PH Community Call, we discussed: 

• The Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension International Risk Score: A Prediction Model for Outcomes Using Machine Learning by Megan Griffiths
• Placental growth factor promotes endothelial activation and inflammatory remodelling in pulmonary hypertension by My Ngoc Ha

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was historically viewed as a disease of young adults; however, emerging evidence suggests rising prevalence in the elderly, which is an insufficiently characterized population. 

Part of the 'Hypoxia in pulmonary vascular research – altitude and beyond' webinar series by the High Altitude Task Force, who raise awareness and understanding of PH linked to high altitude and organise scientific conferences in regions affected by high altitudes.

Pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension is a progressive vasculopathy with substantial early mortality. Subcutaneous treprostinil is an established prostacyclin-pathway therapy for higher-risk disease, but long-term pediatric data from Latin American referral centers remain limited.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe complication of Takayasu arteritis (TAK) with pulmonary artery involvement (PAI), associated with poor prognosis. Serum uric acid (UA) has been linked to both TAK severity and PH in other settings, but its role specifically in TAK-PAI-associated PH remains unclear. 

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a distinct subtype of pulmonary hypertension arising from persistent major pulmonary artery obstruction after pulmonary embolism.

Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is primarily measured using motion-mode (M-mode) echocardiography. However, image resolution doesn't always provide clear visualization. In these cases, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) may offer a valuable alternative for right ventricular assessment.

Splenic focused ultrasound (sFUS) neuromodulation improves monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats of both sexes, with females achieving near-normalization of right ventricular systolic pressure and males showing partial improvement.

Assessment of right atrial (RA) structure helps monitor right heart (RH) function, critical for prognosis in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This study aims to assess the prognostic value of RA adverse remodeling (RAAR) with targeted therapy in PAH.