Association between cytokines and functional, hemodynamic parameters, and clinical outcomes in pulmonary arterial hypertension

To assess the relationship of cytokines with functional and clinical outcomes in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation are characteristic of PAH. We investigated whether markers of angiogenesis and inflammation associated with functional, hemodynamic parameters, and clinical outcomes in PAH. PAH patients (n = 206) were pooled from two clinical trials: TRUST-1 and FREEDOM-C2. Baseline and post-treatment cytokine levels were correlated to baseline clinical and hemodynamic parameters, were assessed in clinical subgroups, and were associated with clinical outcomes. In 206 patients (mean age = 48 years; 74% women) with WHO group-1 PAH, most cytokine levels were higher in those with 6-min walking distance (6MWD)