Sex Hormones and Vascular Protection in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Abstract

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a serious disease and a major public health problem with approximately 1000 new patients diagnosed every year in the United States.1, 2 PAH is a progressive disease involving impaired pulmonary vascular structure and function and is ultimately lethal due to right ventricular failure. Recent insights into the pathogenesis of PAH have lead to more promising therapeutic approaches and improved outcomes; however, the mortality rates associated with PAH remain unacceptably high.1, 3, 4