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Averjanovaitė V, Gumbienė L, Zeleckienė I, Šileikienė V. Unmasking a Silent Threat: Improving Pulmonary Hypertension Screening Methods for Interstitial Lung Disease Patients. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 60:58. [PMID: 38256318 PMCID: PMC10820938 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60010058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the latest literature on the diagnostics and treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Heightened suspicion for PH arises when the advancement of dyspnoea in ILD patients diverges from the expected pattern of decline in pulmonary function parameters. The complexity of PH associated with ILD (PH-ILD) diagnostics is emphasized by the limitations of transthoracic echocardiography in the ILD population, necessitating the exploration of alternative diagnostic approaches. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) emerges as a promising tool, offering insights into hemodynamic parameters and providing valuable prognostic information. The potential of biomarkers, alongside pulmonary function and cardiopulmonary exercise tests, is explored for enhanced diagnostic and prognostic precision. While specific treatments for PH-ILD remain limited, recent studies on inhaled treprostinil provide new hope for improved patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lina Gumbienė
- Clinic of Cardiac and Vascular Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania;
| | | | - Virginija Šileikienė
- Clinic of Chest Diseases, Immunology and Allergology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania;
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Blanco I, Hernández-González F, García A, Torres-Castro R, Barberà JA. Management of Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Chronic Lung Disease. Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2023; 44:826-839. [PMID: 37487524 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1770121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication of chronic lung diseases, particularly in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and interstitial lung diseases (ILD) and especially in advanced disease. It is associated with greater mortality and worse clinical course. Given the high prevalence of some respiratory disorders and because lung parenchymal abnormalities might be present in other PH groups, the appropriate diagnosis of PH associated with respiratory disease represents a clinical challenge. Patients with chronic lung disease presenting symptoms that exceed those expected by the pulmonary disease should be further evaluated by echocardiography. Confirmatory right heart catheterization is indicated in candidates to surgical treatments, suspected severe PH potentially amenable with targeted therapy, and, in general, in those conditions where the result of the hemodynamic assessment will determine treatment options. The treatment of choice for these patients who are hypoxemic is long-term oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation to improve symptoms. Lung transplant is the only curative therapy and can be considered in appropriate cases. Conventional vasodilators or drugs approved for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are not recommended in patients with mild-to-moderate PH because they may impair gas exchange and their lack of efficacy shown in randomized controlled trials. Patients with severe PH (as defined by pulmonary vascular resistance >5 Wood units) should be referred to a center with expertise in PH and lung diseases and ideally included in randomized controlled trials. Targeted PAH therapy might be considered in this subset of patients, with careful monitoring of gas exchange. In patients with ILD, inhaled treprostinil has been shown to improve functional ability and to delay clinical worsening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Blanco
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
- European Reference Network on Rare Pulmonary Diseases (ERN-LUNG), Spain
| | - Fernanda Hernández-González
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
- European Reference Network on Rare Pulmonary Diseases (ERN-LUNG), Spain
| | - Agustín García
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
- European Reference Network on Rare Pulmonary Diseases (ERN-LUNG), Spain
| | - Rodrigo Torres-Castro
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
- European Reference Network on Rare Pulmonary Diseases (ERN-LUNG), Spain
| | - Joan A Barberà
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
- European Reference Network on Rare Pulmonary Diseases (ERN-LUNG), Spain
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