Penn Study Shows Two Heart Drugs Ineffective in Treating Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Posted May 18 2011 9:22pm
Despite their beneficial effects in heart disease, neither aspirin nor simvastatin appear to offer benefit to patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), according to research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
“Although both aspirin and simvastatin are effective in many types of cardiovascular disease, these drugs have not been well-studied in the treatment of PAH,” said Steven Kawut, MD, MS, lead author of the study and associate professor of Medicine and Epidemiology and director of the Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program at Penn. “Our study was designed to determine if the drugs could be effective in the treatment of PAH.”
PAH is a progressive, incurable disease that occurs when the blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs increases, causing shortness of breath, dizziness and fatigue, especially upon exertion, and can ultimately lead to heart failure and death. PAH can occur on its own or be associated with other conditions, such as connective tissue diseases and congenital heart disease.
Despite their beneficial effects in heart disease, neither aspirin nor simvastatin appear to offer benefit to patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), according to research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
“Although both aspirin and simvastatin are effective in many types of cardiovascular disease, these drugs have not been well-studied in the treatment of PAH,” said Steven Kawut, MD, MS, lead author of the study and associate professor of Medicine and Epidemiology and director of the Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program at Penn. “Our study was designed to determine if the drugs could be effective in the treatment of PAH.”
PAH is a progressive, incurable disease that occurs when the blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs increases, causing shortness of breath, dizziness and fatigue, especially upon exertion, and can ultimately lead to heart failure and death. PAH can occur on its own or be associated with other conditions, such as connective tissue diseases and congenital heart disease.