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Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists01:23

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists

Prostacyclin receptor agonists are a class of therapeutic agents integral to managing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). These drugs operate by mimicking the action of prostaglandin I2, or PGI2, a naturally occurring compound in the body.
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...
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Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists

Endothelins (ETs) are potent vasoactive peptides critical in the human body's various physiological and pathological processes. One of the most promising therapeutic strategies for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) involves counteracting the effects of these endothelins using a class of drugs known as endothelin receptor antagonists.
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Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists

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Myasthenia Gravis: Overview and Treatment

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Cushing Syndrome I: Introduction

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Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
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Pegvisomant: a new treatment modality for acromegaly.

Niki Karavitaki1, John A H Wass

  • 1Department of Endocrinology, the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK.

Hormones (Athens, Greece)
|September 20, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Pegvisomant, a novel GH receptor antagonist, offers a potent new treatment for acromegaly when other therapies fail. This drug effectively reduces insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels, improving patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Acromegaly, caused by excess growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), significantly increases mortality.
  • Current treatments like surgery, radiotherapy, and medications (somatostatin analogues, dopamine agonists) are insufficient for many patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate pegvisomant, a novel GH receptor antagonist, as a treatment for acromegaly.
  • To assess its efficacy and safety compared to existing therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Pegvisomant binds to the GH receptor, inducing internalization and blocking signaling pathways.
  • This mechanism reduces IGF-I production, a key marker of acromegaly activity.

Main Results:

  • Published studies indicate pegvisomant is a potent medical therapy with high specificity.

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  • It is effective regardless of tumor characteristics.
  • Potential side effects include elevated liver enzymes, and its high cost is a consideration.

    • Conclusions:

    • Pegvisomant represents a novel and effective treatment for acromegaly, particularly for patients resistant to other therapies.
    • Further research is needed to confirm long-term efficacy and monitor potential effects on pituitary tumor size.
    • It is currently recommended as a second-line or adjuvant therapy.