Open AccessIron therapy as a novel treatment of scleroderma‐related pulmonary hypertension: A case report and literature review
Author(s) -
Neumann Melissa,
Wong Karen A.,
Lazo Kevin,
Stover Diane
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
respirology case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2051-3380
DOI - 10.1002/rcr2.904
Subject(s) - medicine , scleroderma (fungus) , pulmonary hypertension , cardiology , pulmonary artery , ferritin , systemic scleroderma , respiratory system , pathology , disease , inoculation
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is the leading cause of death in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), with a 3‐year mortality of 40%–50% despite optimal therapy. Treatment mirrors that of idiopathic PAH and is often ineffective. This is a case report of a patient with SSc evaluated for progressive dyspnoea with exertion and found to have elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressures (PASPs). She received ferritin‐targeted iron infusions as a novel treatment of suspected SSc‐associated PAH, with subsequent resolution of respiratory symptoms and PASPs that normalized. We review PAH especially associated with SSc, its treatment and identify a possible novel therapeutic approach for those with PAH‐SSc.