Highlighting Current and Future Perspectives in the Journal

Abstract

The recent increase in awareness and recognition of pulmonary hypertension is in part related to the efforts of Rheumatologists who are now screening many of their patients for this deadly disease. This issue, guest edited by Dr Kristin Highland, focuses on the spectrum of connective tissue diseases and their relation to pulmonary hypertension. While there is still much to learn about how and why patients with connective tissue diseases develop pulmonary hypertension, the benefits of treatment for many of these patients are apparent. This issue also spotlights rheumatologist, Dr Virginia Steen, whose efforts in the world of pulmonary hypertension, particularly on screening and early diagnosis, are close to my heart. For our new International Corner, Dr Nick Morrell provides commentary on combination therapy issues covered in the previous issue of Advances, with an international perspective.I am pleased to preview important content to be published in Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension in the next 2 issues. The journal will be focusing on 2 meetings held earlier this year that provided relevant and timely updates on pulmonary hypertension. First, physicians who were unable to attend the World Health Organization 4th World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension will be pleased to see the next issue and its comprehensive discussion of key findings from this meeting. Among the topics to be covered are: current perspectives on pathophysiology, diagnosis and assessment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), interventional and surgical modalities, endpoints and clinical trial design in PAH, as well as inflammation, growth factors, and pulmonary vascular remodeling.In the following issue, the journal will feature content from another important meeting, this year's 8th International Conference and Scientific Sessions of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association. The information from this meeting will be gleaned from physicians who led the sessions and who are among the leading investigators in the field. We look forward to providing articles on these important issues and welcome your feedback. Please send your comments and suggestions to our executive editor at Stulink@aol.com.