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Use of β-Blockers in Pulmonary Hypertension
Frédéric Perros1, Frances S de Man2, Harm J Bogaard2
1From the University Paris-Sud, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France (F.P., F.A., G.S., M.H.); AP-HP, Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Bicêtre, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France (F.P., F.A., G.S., M.H.); Inserm UMR_S 999, Hôpital Marie Lannelongue, Le Plessis Robinson, France (F.P., F.A., G.S., M.H.); Department of Pulmonology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (F.S.d.M., H.J.B.); Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Ville de Québec, Canada (S.B., S.P.); Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine-DIMES, University of Bologna, Italy (N.G.). frederic.perros@inserm.fr.
Right heart failure is understudied but critical in pulmonary hypertension. This review explores the potential use of beta-blockers to support right ventricle function in pulmonary hypertension patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Right heart failure (RHF) is understudied compared to left heart failure (LHF).
- RHF is a significant predictor of morbidity and mortality in pulmonary hypertension (PH).
- Current therapies do not specifically target right ventricle (RV) function in PH.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current knowledge on beta-blocker (β-blockers) use in pulmonary hypertension.
- To explore the potential of β-blockers in supporting RV function in PH.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of preclinical and clinical studies.
- Analysis of existing data on β-blocker efficacy and safety in PH.
Main Results:
- The role of RV status as a predictor of outcomes in precapillary and postcapillary PH is highlighted.
- The paradoxical lack of approved therapies targeting RV in PH is noted.
- The proposed use of β-blockers, by analogy to LHF management, is discussed.
Conclusions:
- Right ventricle dysfunction is a critical factor in pulmonary hypertension prognosis.
- Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of β-blockers for RV support in PH.