Tolerability and clinical efficacy of inhaled treprostinil in patients with group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension

Prognostic Value of Serial Risk Stratification in Adult and Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

In pulmonary arterial hypertension, it is recommended to base therapeutic decisions on risk stratification. This systematic review aims to report the prognostic value of serial risk stratification in adult and pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension and to explore the usability of serial risk stratification as treatment target.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Electronic databases PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched up to January 30, 2023, using terms associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension, pediatric pulmonary hypertension, and risk stratification. Observational studies and clinical trials describing risk stratification at both baseline and follow-up were included. Sixty five studies were eligible for inclusion, including only 2 studies in a pediatric population. C-statistic range at baseline was 0.31 to 0.77 and improved to 0.30 to 0.91 at follow-up. In 53% of patients, risk status changed (42% improved, 12% worsened) over 168 days (interquartile range, 137-327 days; n=22 studies). The average proportion of low-risk patients increased from 18% at baseline to 36% at a median follow-up of 244 days (interquartile range, 140-365 days; n=40 studies). In placebo-controlled drug studies, risk statuses of the intervention groups improved more and worsened less compared with the placebo groups. Furthermore, a low-risk status, but also an improved risk status, at follow-up was associated with a better outcome. Similar results were found in the 2 pediatric studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Follow-up risk stratification has improved prognostic value compared with baseline risk stratification, and change in risk status between baseline and follow-up corresponded to a change in survival. These data support the use of serial risk stratification as treatment target in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Effect of riociguat on right ventricular function in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

BACKGROUND

In the Phase III PATENT-1 (NCT00810693) and CHEST-1 (NCT00855465) studies, riociguat demonstrated efficacy vs placebo in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Clinical effects were maintained at 2 years in the long-term extension studies PATENT-2 (NCT00863681) and CHEST-2 (NCT00910429).

METHODS

This post hoc analysis of hemodynamic data from PATENT-1 and CHEST-1 assessed whether riociguat improved right ventricular (RV) function parameters including stroke volume index (SVI), stroke volume, RV work index, and cardiac efficiency. REVEAL Risk Score (RRS) was calculated for patients stratified by SVI and right atrial pressure (RAP) at baseline and follow-up. The association between RV function parameters and SVI and RAP stratification with long-term outcomes was assessed.

RESULTS

In PATENT-1 (n = 341) and CHEST-1 (n = 238), riociguat improved RV function parameters vs placebo (p < 0.05). At follow-up, there were significant differences in RRS between patients with favorable and unfavorable SVI and RAP, irrespective of treatment arm (p < 0.0001). Multiple RV function parameters at baseline and follow-up were associated with survival and clinical worsening-free survival (CWFS) in PATENT-2 (n = 396; p < 0.05) and CHEST-2 (n = 237). In PATENT-2, favorable SVI and RAP at follow-up only was associated with survival and CWFS (p < 0.05), while in CHEST-2, favorable SVI and RAP at baseline and follow-up were associated with survival and CWFS (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This post hoc analysis of PATENT and CHEST suggests that riociguat improves RV function in patients with PAH and CTEPH.

Inhaled pulmonary vasodilators: a narrative review

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe disease that affects people of all ages. It can occur as an idiopathic disorder at birth or as part of a variety of cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders. Inhaled pulmonary vasodilators (IPV) can reduce pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and improve RV function with minimal systemic effects. IPV includes inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), inhaled aerosolized prostacyclin, or analogs, including epoprostenol, iloprost, treprostinil, and other vasodilators. In addition to pulmonary vasodilating effects, IPV can also be used to improve oxygenation, reduce inflammation, and protect cell. Off-label use of IPV is common in daily clinical practice. However, evidence supporting the inhalational administration of these medications is limited, inconclusive, and controversial regarding their safety and efficacy. We conducted a search for relevant papers published up to May 2020 in four databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE and Web of Science. This review demonstrates that the clinical using and updated evidence of IPV. iNO is widely used in neonates, pediatrics, and adults with different cardiopulmonary diseases. The limitations of iNO include high cost, flat dose-response, risk of significant rebound PH after withdrawal, and the requirement of complex technology for monitoring. The literature suggests that inhaled aerosolized epoprostenol, iloprost, treprostinil and others such as milrinone and levosimendan may be similar to iNO. More research of IPV is needed to determine acceptable inclusion criteria, long-term outcomes, and management strategies including time, dose, and duration.