New blood test to evaluate the severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Written By : Isra Zaman

Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Published On 2022-08-26 04:00 GMT | Update On 2022-08-26 07:59 GMT

The new blood test measures DNA fragments shed by damaged cells. Researchers found that these fragments, called cell-free DNA, were elevated in the blood of patients with PAH and increase with disease severity.

Patients with PAH have a high death rate, and the condition mostly affects women. Despite treatment advances, it currently has no cure.

Current tests used to monitor PAH severity rely on established risk prediction scores based on clinical symptoms and on the use of an invasive catheter to measure pressure in the lungs. Doctors sometimes use echocardiography, or heart imaging, to measure pressures in the heart as an indirect measurement of lung pressure, but these tests tend to lack reliability and sensitivity.

In the current study, the research team analyzed cell-free DNA from blood samples taken from 209 adult patients, predominately women. The researchers compared the results to cell-free DNA measured from a control group of 48 healthy volunteers without PAH at the NIH Clinical Center.

They found that cell-free DNA was elevated in patients with PAH, and also found that cell-free DNA concentrations increased in proportion to the severity of the disease. Patients with the highest level of cell-free DNA had a 3.8 times greater risk of either death or a need for lung transplantation compared to those with the lowest level of cell-free DNA, the researchers said.

Further analyses of cell-free DNA samples revealed that multiple tissue types – including the heart, blood vessels, fat tissue, and inflammatory cells circulating in the blood – were affected by PAH. This knowledge may lead to new drug interventions for PAH, whose current treatment options may slow but not halt or reverse disease progression.

Ref:

Plasma Cell-free DNA Predicts Survival and Maps Specific Sources of Injury in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Circulation. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.056719

Full View

Article Source : CIRCULATION

Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.

NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.

Isra Zaman

Isra Zaman is a Life Science graduate from Daulat Ram College, Delhi University, and a postgraduate in Biotechnology from Amity University. She has a flair for writing, and her roles at Medicaldialogues include that of a Sr. content writer and a medical correspondent. Her news pieces cover recent discoveries and updates from the health and medicine sector. She can be reached at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.

Comments Policy

Our comments section is governed by our Comments Policy . By posting comments at Medical Dialogues you automatically agree with our Comments Policy , Terms And Conditions and Privacy Policy .

New blood test to evaluate the severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Similar News

Could Heart Attacks Be Caused by Bacteria? Study Provide Insights

Weight Loss Drugs May Lower Risk of Heart Failure Hospitalization and Death by 40 Percent: Study

Is Your Mental Health Putting Your Heart at Risk? Study Sheds Light

No Benefit of Beta Blockers in Certain Heart Attack Patients: REBOOT Trial Finds

Study Reveals Potassium-Rich Foods May Lower Irregular Heartbeat Risk

Study Reveals Daily Intake of Five Mushrooms May Reduce Alzheimer's and Heart Disease Risk

Depression And Schizophrenia Double Heart Disease And Mortality Risks: Lancet Report

How Dangerous Is Irregular Sleep for Heart Failure Survivors? Study Finds Out