Health Conditions
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a rare type of high blood pressure that impacts the lungs and right side of the heart due to narrowing and blockages of the blood vessels. 500-1000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. PAH is more common in women.
Symptoms
Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension can experience:
Shortness of breath
Gray or blue skin
Chest pressure
Chest pain
Dizziness
Fatigue
Heart palpitations
Causes
PAH is a type of Pulmonary Hypertension (PH). PH is sorted into five groups depending on the cause. Pulmonary hypertension caused by left-sided heart disease is the most common type. Other causes are lung disease/scarring, blockages of the pulmonary artery, and health conditions like blood disorders, kidney disease, inflammatory disorders, and glycogen storage disease.
PAH has an unknown cause, but risk factors include genetics and drug use. There is growing evidence that PAH is correlated with an altered gut microbiome, leading to immune dysregulation.
Treatment
There is currently no cure for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Commonly, PAH is treated by medication to help lower blood pressure, however, changes in lifestyle and diet can also help lower blood pressure. If medications do not control symptoms, surgical interventions including lung transplant are options.
Microbiota Therapy Research
ACT researchers at the University of Minnesota have completed a phase I, open label, trial determining the safety of Microbiota Transplant Therapy in patients with Arterial Pulmonary Hypertension.
Microbiota Transplant Therapy With Antibiotic Preconditioning and Fiber Supplementation in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Trial Location: University of Minnesota – Minneapolis, MN
Trial Status: Underway
Trial Summary:
A phase I pilot trial is underway at the University of Minnesota to investigate the safety, feasibility, and pharmacokinetics of microbiota transplant therapy (MTT) with antibiotic preconditioning and fiber supplementation versus placebo in patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. The trial will help inform the future development of trials including MTT and patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.
For more information, visit: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06481852Microbiota Transplant Therapy for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Early Safety and Feasibility Study
Trial Location: University of Minnesota – Minneapolis, MN
Trial Status: Completed
Trial Summary:
Researchers at the University of Minnesota completed a phase 1, open label study testing the safety of microbiota transplants in patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.
For more details, visit: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04884971
To read the study publication, visit: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31490732/
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