Acceleron’s pulmonary hypertension treatment meets main goal, shares soar 79% - Physician's Weekly

Acceleron’s pulmonary hypertension treatment meets main goal, shares soar 79% - Physician's Weekly
My Smile Is Hiding Chronic Pain - Pulmonary Hypertension News
SNUH team finds method to detect pulmonary arterial hypertension early - Korea Biomedical Review
Life Hacks that Help Me to Live with PH - Pulmonary Hypertension News

Posted: 27 Jan 2020 12:00 AM PST

(Reuters) – Acceleron Pharma Inc <XLRN.O> said on Monday its investigational treatment for a rare, deadly lung disease called pulmonary arterial hypertension met the main goal in a mid-stage trial, sending its shares surging 79%.

The treatment, sotatercept, showed significant reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance versus placebo at week 24.

It also showed significant improvements in patients functional capacity, which was determined by a six minute walk test.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension, or PAH, occurs when arteries in the lungs constrict, forcing the heart to work harder, often leading to heart failure. Its symptoms include shortness of breath and fatigue.

The disease has no cure, but there are treatments on the market that can manage the condition.

The company has a rare blood disorder drug, Reblozyl, in the market.

(Reporting by Dania Nadeem in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)

My Smile Is Hiding Chronic Pain - Pulmonary Hypertension News

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 07:00 AM PST

If you saw me you would probably notice my bright blue eyes (thanks, Pawpaw) or my huge smile. You might not realize that behind the smile, I am hiding something.

I have been hiding the chronic pain that has been affecting me for a long time. It's not that I'm being dishonest about it, I simply prefer to smile and laugh instead of crying. I'm certain that I'm not the only person with pulmonary hypertension (PH) who can relate to that.

Last week, I ended up in the emergency room with ongoing chest pain, pressure, and tightness related to my PH. My entire body felt like I had been run over by a truck. I already had pain medications, but the maximum dosage provided no relief. Usually, these medications, along with rest and oxygen, offer some relief. But this time they didn't, and I was admitted to the hospital for several days for pain management.

My PH doctor ordered intravenous pain medications. The pain management doctor was wonderful and implemented an effective plan. Unfortunately, she doesn't have an outpatient clinic, so I will need to follow up with an outpatient pain management specialist. I am not happy about adding another specialist to my list of doctors, but I know that discovering new ways to relieve my chronic pain will improve my overall quality of life.

Some of my PH medications can cause pain, which adds to the chest pains. On some days, I just want to hide under a blanket. On other days, I want to cry. I don't often cry, but last week I did just that — I sat and cried. I must have looked pitiful, but I was at my breaking point.

My chronic pain has several sources, including chronic kidney disease that causes me horrific back pain at times. Some people with PH may have site pain caused by subcutaneous medications. Others, like me, also deal with the side effects of oral or intravenous medications.

Pulmonary hypertension has affected me for almost 15 years. Chronic pain, which I've also dealt with for years, is an added perk. I've tried to block it mentally by thinking it will go away. But it always seems to return. This time, it has affected my body for nearly a week without remission.

I was told several years ago that I should try a pain management specialist, but I didn't think I needed one. At this point, I think my next plan is to have medications available so that the pain doesn't spiral out of control again. I can no longer continue to ignore it, which only makes it worse. I have been covering up the fact that I'm dealing with so much pain, even from my family.

Living with a life-threatening illness like PH is taxing on my mental health. With chronic pain, it's even worse. I'm frustrated, apprehensive, and scared, as I've never been someone who takes pain medications. But I realize that my current demeanor isn't normal, and that also frustrates me.

Chronic pain can be debilitating and prevent us from enjoying life to the fullest.

Do you experience chronic pain related to your PH? How do you manage it? Please share in the comments below.

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Note: Pulmonary Hypertension News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Pulmonary Hypertension News or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to pulmonary hypertension.

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SNUH team finds method to detect pulmonary arterial hypertension early - Korea Biomedical Review

Posted: 14 Jan 2020 12:00 AM PST

A Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) research team has developed a molecular image analysis method that can detect pulmonary arterial hypertension at an early stage.

From left, Professors Lee Seung-pyo, Park Jun-bin, and Pang Jin-chul

The team, led by Professors Lee Seung-pyo, Park Jun-bin, and Pang Jin-chul at the hospital, said that their method could evaluate the pulmonary hypertension inflammatory response, which may be used for the early diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension and confirmation of treatment response.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a disease in which the pulmonary artery narrows for no particular reason. Its symptoms include pressure rise and the fall in the patient's right ventricular function. Such symptoms lead to the blood not flowing from the heart to the lungs smoothly and can cause shortness of breath, heart failure, and even death.

Despite the steady development of medical technology, the five-year survival rate for pulmonary arterial hypertension is only about half. Due to the prognosis of the disease, early diagnosis and treatment are essential.

To develop an early diagnosis model, the researchers focused on the inflammatory response in the pulmonary blood vessels of patients. The researchers hypothesized that if they visualized and quantified the inflammatory response, they could confirm the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The team determined the inflammatory response through the degree of macrophage invasion.

To confirm their theory, the SNUH researchers injected a 68Ga-NOTA-MSA compound into the body using a marker. After a positron emission tomography scan, the expression of this marker increased as the macrophage infiltration became more severe.

"In other words, the marker was used to colorize the inflammatory response associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension," the team said in a press release. "In actual clinical trials, patients with pulmonary hypertension showed significantly higher color expression than the healthy control group."

The team stressed that the significance of this study was that it opened the possibility of early detection of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

"The main symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension are shortness of breath and dizziness," it team said. "It's a relatively common phenomenon in everyday life, so people tend to ignore it or treat it as another disease." That explains why treatment for the disease was often delayed, the team added.

According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average time to diagnose pulmonary hypertension accurately was 1.5 years.

Accurate diagnosis also requires a costly examination by inserting wires into the body. However, the newly developed imaging technique is noninvasive and is simpler than the existing test.

"Early diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension is vital, and efforts have been made to diagnose it at an early stage of the disease," Professor Lee said. "We expect the study will contribute to the early diagnosis and prognosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension."

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine published the results of the research.

corea022@docdocdoc.co.kr

Life Hacks that Help Me to Live with PH - Pulmonary Hypertension News

Posted: 31 Jan 2020 12:00 AM PST

We don't always have a choice about what life throws our way. But our response to challenges is something we can control.

Living with pulmonary hypertension (PH), I don't always have control over my body. With that lack of control comes frustration. However, I've found some coping strategies that improve my quality of life with PH.

A chronic illness like pulmonary hypertension can affect someone in a variety of ways. Daily life with energy-depleting symptoms is taxing. Through trial and error, I have found some hacks that can help make life with PH a little simpler for me.

When discussing energy within the rare disease communities, we often mention that we are out of "spoons." For those of you unfamiliar with the "spoon theory," it comes from an essay by Christine Miserandino in which she describes how she explained to a friend her limitations while living with lupus. Like Miserandino, some days I wake up with no spoons. My main objective is to conserve my energy so that I can complete tasks planned for a particular day. But as you all know, even the best-laid plans can change.

While using these life hacks, I have noticed that I tend to have more productive days. Who doesn't like checking items off their to-do list? Some of my life hacks have proved to be beneficial while I try to balance life with PH. I set alarms on my phone as reminders to take my pills. Currently, I have four pill alarms and a pillbox that I organize each week.

I started cooking dinner as a young tween for my parents and sisters. Cooking for my family has always been an enjoyable experience for me, but the physical demands of PH have forced me to develop some strategies to continue to do that. A small foldable stool in the kitchen helps me when I'm prepping and cutting vegetables. I sometimes buy prewashed and cut fruits and vegetables if I find them at a good price. Another favorite cooking hack is my Instant Pot. This is like your grandmother's pressure cooker, but much better. I use mine to make soups, beans, chili, and shredded proteins for the week.

My local H-E-B grocer offers free, next-day delivery. Kroger stores also deliver, and they may offer coupons for a free service. If you're fortunate to be an Amazon Prime member, you can order almost anything from there — if you have a local Whole Foods, look for prime savings.

When I feel up to going out to the store, whether it's the supermarket or warehouse, I take advantage of the electric carts that are usually available. I haven't always been so open to using these carts. However, after a few attempts to shop without them, that ended in frustration and my walking out with no groceries. I gave in.

Following are other hacks that help to make my life with PH easier:

Dry shampoo. Yes, I went there. I carry a travel-size bottle in my bag, as I don't have the time or the energy to wash my hair as often as needed.
Comfy pajamas. Comfort is essential, and when you wear pajamas more often than street clothes, cuteness can't hurt either.
Sticky notes. Keeping some of these around the house helps me when brain fog kicks in.
Naps. A short snooze can be beneficial for me — and those around me.

What life hacks help to make PH life a little easier for you? Please share in the comments below.

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