Right ventricular dysfunction is the strongest predictor of mortality in pulmonary arterial hypertension, highlighting the need for novel therapies targeting right ventricular-specific pathways.
This review outlines the distinct pathophysiological mechanisms of right ventricular dysfunction in pulmonary arterial hypertension and identifies potential therapeutic targets currently under investigation.
Right ventricle (RV) dysfunction is the strongest predictor of mortality in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but, at present, there are no therapies directly targeting the failing RV. Although there are shared molecular mechanisms in both RV and left ventricle (LV) dysfunction, there are important differences between the 2 ventricles that may allow for the development of RV-enhancing or RV-directed therapies. In this review, we discuss the current understandings of the dysregulated pathways that promote RV dysfunction, highlight RV-enriched or RV-specific pathways that may be of particular therapeutic value, and summarize recent and ongoing clinical trials that are investigating RV function in PAH. It is hoped that development of RV-targeted therapies will improve quality of life and enhance survival for this deadly disease.
Prisco et al. (Tue,) conducted a review in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Right ventricular dysfunction is the strongest predictor of mortality in pulmonary arterial hypertension, highlighting the need for novel therapies targeting right ventricular-specific pathways.