JACC: Basic to Translational Science (Apr 2018)

Short-Term Hemodynamic Effects of Apelin in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

  • Lauren Brash, MD,
  • Gareth D. Barnes, MD,
  • Melanie J. Brewis, MD,
  • A. Colin Church, MD,
  • Simon J. Gibbs, MD,
  • Luke S.G.E. Howard, MD,
  • Geeshath Jayasekera, MBChB,
  • Martin K. Johnson, MD,
  • Neil McGlinchey, MBChB,
  • Joelle Onorato, PhD,
  • Joanne Simpson, MD,
  • Colin Stirrat, MD,
  • Stephen Thomson, MBChB,
  • Geoffrey Watson, MD,
  • Martin R. Wilkins, MD,
  • Carrie Xu, MS,
  • David J. Welsh, PhD,
  • David E. Newby, MD,
  • Andrew J. Peacock, MD

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 2
pp. 176 – 186

Abstract

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Summary: Apelin agonism causes systemic vasodilatation and increased cardiac contractility in humans, and improves pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in animal models. Here, the authors examined the short-term pulmonary hemodynamic effects of systemic apelin infusion in patients with PAH. In a double-blind randomized crossover study, 19 patients with PAH received intravenous (Pyr1)apelin-13 and matched saline placebo during invasive right heart catheterization. (Pyr1)apelin-13 infusion caused a reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance and increased cardiac output. This effect was accentuated in the subgroup of patients receiving concomitant phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibition. Apelin agonism is a novel potential therapeutic target for PAH. (Effects of Apelin on the Lung Circulation in Pulmonary Hypertension; NCT01457170) Key Words: apelin, APJ, human, pulmonary arterial hypertension