Progress on Drug-induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized hemo-dynamically by the presence of pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension, defined by a pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) ≤15 mmHg and a pulmonary vascular resistance(PVR)>3 wood units (WU). According to the current classification, PAH can be associated with exposure to certain drugs or toxins such as anorectic agents, amphetamines, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The improvement in awareness and recognition of drug-induced PAH (DIPAH) have allowed the identification of more drugs associated with an increased risk for induction of PAH. The supposed mechanism is the increase of the serotonin level or activation of serotonin receptors that have been demonstrated to promote the growth of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and cause progressive obliteration of pulmonary vascular. DIPAH remains a rare complication, which may be associated with individual susceptibility, and further studies are needed to identify patients at risk of DIPAH.