[Pulmonary hypertension: the future has begun].
In recent years, pulmonary hypertension got into the focus of research due to the development of efficacious medications and the discovery of important pathologic mechanisms of disease. Currently, prostanoids, endothelin receptor antagonists and phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors are the most important substance groups used for treatment. Substances that are emerging in tumor therapy (tyrosine kinase inhibitors, epidermal growth factor [EGF] und platelet-derived growth factor [PDGF] receptor blockers), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), rho-kinase inhibitors and targeted drugs for endothelial dysfunction will be evaluated as future drugs for pulmonary hypertension. Improving early diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension will be an important task in the future. Both the development of diagnostic methods with increased sensitivity and specificity and a broad awareness program will be necessary to achieve this goal.
Olschewski
Horst
H
Abteilung für Pulmonologie, Medizinische Universitätsklinik, Medizinische Universität, Graz, Osterreich. horst.olschewski@meduni-graz.at
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors
D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D011453:Prostaglandins; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor