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Updated: May 3, 2026

Increasing Pulmonary Artery Pulsatile Flow Improves Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension in Piglets
Published on: May 11, 2015
Pulmonary hypertension and beta blockers: where do we stand? Where are we going?
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. bbugan@hotmail.com.
Abstract:
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a chronic, progressive debilitating disease and associated with poor prognosis despite the novel numerous treatment options. Beta-blockers constitute a cornerstone in left heart failure treatment; however, we still don't know the role of beta-blockers on PH and they are considered relatively contraindicated in patients with PH because of the possible negative effect on these patients' hemodynamics and exercise capacity. On the other hand, animal models of PH and non-randomized clinical trials have shown that beta-blockers may improve right ventricular function and prevent remodeling in the heart muscle. As it is well-known, right heart function is the main prognostic determinants of the PH. The purpose of this chapter is to present the use of beta-blockers for the treatment of PH, the purported mechanisms of action, previously conducted animal studies and clinical trials.
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