Pulmonary hypertension in diffuse parenchymal lung diseases — Is there any benefit of PAH-specific therapy?

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is diagnosed in 40–50% of the patients with end-stage diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLD), and it is associated with significant worsening of life expectancy. Latest ERS/ESC guidelines recommend best available treatment of DPLD, and long-term oxygen therapy in the patients with PaO2 less than 60 mm Hg. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)-targeted drugs are not recommended in PH-DPLD patients, due to the risk of increasing the ventilation-perfusion mismatch, and consequently worsening of hypoxaemia. Nevertheless, PAH-oriented treatment may be beneficial to selected groups of patients. The authors try to find the answer to several important questions: is there any benefit of PAH-specific therapy in PH-DPLD, who should be the candidate for PAH-specific therapy, what class of drugs is most promising, and what outcome measures should be employed?.