Pulmonary hypertension affects about 1% of the global population, with the condition being more common in females. Researchers at The University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson believe that the hormone estrogen may play a role in pulmonary hypertension in females. Their study presented at the American Thoracic Society 2024 International Conference suggests that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may improve pulmonary hypertension symptoms in females, although the findings have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
The researchers recruited 742 female participants for the study, classifying them into the five groups established by the World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension. The study explored the impact of both exogenous and endogenous hormone exposure on pulmonary hypertension. They found that the average pulmonary arterial pressure decreased with a greater lifetime duration of menstruation, and an association was observed between the use of hormone replacement therapy and lower mean pulmonary artery pressure, higher right ventricular fractional shortening, and right ventricular ejection fraction.
Among those in Group 1 pulmonary hypertension, use of hormone replacement therapy was associated with lower mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, and higher right ventricular ejection fraction. However, further studies are needed to confirm these findings. The study’s preliminary data showed improvement in mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, right ventricular ejection fraction, and right ventricular fractional shortening with the use of HRT in the pulmonary hypertension cohort.
The findings of this study may cause controversy in the medical community, with some experts noting the pros and cons of hormone replacement therapy and its potential impact on cardiovascular health. The study’s results suggest a potential new avenue of research for treating pulmonary hypertension, a difficult condition to manage. However, further research, including randomized control trials, is needed to confirm the relationship between estrogen and improved pulmonary hypertension outcomes.
Overall, the study by researchers at The University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson provides valuable insights into the potential role of hormone replacement therapy in improving symptoms of pulmonary hypertension in females. While preliminary data showed positive results, further research is necessary to confirm these findings and explore the relationship between estrogen and pulmonary hypertension. This study offers a new direction for future research on treating pulmonary hypertension, a challenging condition with no current cure.
