Clinicopathological study on the pulmonary vasculopathy and right heart morphology/function in lung disease-associated pulmonary hypertension

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26461150
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Respiratory organ internal medicine
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: TSUJINO Ichizo 北海道大学, 医学研究科, 特任教授 (00344507)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 肺高血圧症 / 病理組織学的解析 / 心臓MRI / 胸部CT / 肺疾患合併肺高血圧症 / 右心形態 / 右心機能

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We studied cases with lung disease-associated pulmonary hypertension and demonstrated remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature as well as the expression of target proteins of pulmonary vasodilators. The expression was also shown in myocardial tissue, suggesting favorable effects of pulmonary vasodilating treatment. In the clinical study, we showed significant improvement in the pulmonary vascular resistance and right heart morphology/function (published in the journal Pulmonary Circulation, 2017). We also notably shown elevations of blood insulin level, index of insulin resistance, and plasma concentration of BDNF, one of the myokines, in pulmonary hypertension patients. Lastly, in our study, clinical relevance of chest computed tomography-derived indices of pulmonary vascular system was examined and we found their usefulness in the diagnosis and hemodynamic evaluation of pulmonary hypertension.

Free Research Field

肺高血圧症