Open AccessA new treatment for severe pulmonary arterial hypertension based on an old idea: inhibition of 5‐lipoxygenase
Author(s) -
Voelkel Norbert F.,
PetersGolden Marc
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
pulmonary circulation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.791
H-Index - 40
ISSN - 2045-8940
DOI - 10.1177/2045894019882635
Subject(s) - medicine , pulmonary hypertension , leukotriene , inflammation , lipoxygenase , arachidonic acid , arachidonate 5 lipoxygenase , pharmacology , immune system , immunology , cardiology , enzyme , asthma , biochemistry , chemistry
It has been generally accepted that severe forms of pulmonary arterial hypertension are associated with inflammation. Plasma levels in patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension show elevated levels of interleukins and mediators of inflammation and histologically the diseased small pulmonary arterioles show infiltrates of inflammatory and immune cells. Here, we review the literature that connects pulmonary hypertension with the arachidonic acid/5‐lipoxygenase‐derived leukotriens. This mostly preclinical background data together with the availability of 5‐lipoxygenase inhibitors and leukotriene receptor blockers provide the rationale for testing the hypothesis that 5‐lipoxygenase products contribute to the pathobiology of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension in a subgroup of patients.