Better Treatment Needed for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Although seven therapies have been approved to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), their clinical effectiveness in reducing mortality remains undefined, say researchers from Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Santa Maria Imbaro, Chieti, Italy; GVM Hospitals of Care and Research, Cotignola, RA, Italy; and University of Chicago, IL. Their findings from a previous metaanalysis showed the seven therapies had little effect on hemodynamics and no effect on survival. Since that last review, 10 new clinical trials have added data on approximately 1,500 patients. The researchers say the pooled effect of all treatments now reveals a striking mortality reduction of 39%.