Using Sotatercept in the Care of Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease of the pulmonary microvasculature leading to elevated pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary vascular remodeling, a characteristic of PAH, is driven by dysfunctions in the signaling between the pulmonary smooth muscle and endothelial cells with abnormalities that affect cell proliferation and immune dysregulation. Sotatercept, an activin signaling inhibitor, has been recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of PAH, based on two pivotal clinical trials. Evidence based clinical trials have provided a framework to guide clinicians treating the disease; however, they are not tailored to the individual patient. Often, recommendations from these data are unclear or too general, due to remaining gaps in knowledge. In this edition of "How I Do It", we provide a case-based discussion of common clinical decisions regarding diagnostic testing, choice of first line agents, escalation of therapy, potential timing of sotatercept, safety awareness, practical use, potential management changes, and the future use of sotatercept in other pulmonary hypertension cohorts.