Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease Workup: Approach Considerations, Echocardiography, Chest Radiography

What We Can Do When Others Find Our Health Challenges 'inconvenient'

"Never get a chronic illness; it's really inconvenient for other people."

I stumbled upon a meme with this quote while scrolling through social media last week, and, wow, did it hit home! Can you relate?

As someone managing pulmonary hypertension (PH) and other health conditions, I found this sentiment to be spot on. I've often thought, "If others feel inconvenienced by my health challenges, imagine how I feel!" Sure, my chronic illnesses may briefly disrupt another person's day, but I live with them constantly.

When I came across that meme, I was in the thick of battling my chronic kidney disease and PH. Trying to keep my electrolytes and bloodwork stable while managing my PH and kidneys is no small feat. Talk about inconvenience! But I've learned to adapt and adjust, which can be exhausting. So it stings when someone says I'm inconveniencing them with my illnesses.

Having rare and chronic illnesses isn't a choice; it's not something we willingly sign up for. And it's not just an inconvenience, but a constant battle that affects every aspect of our lives. From physical limitations to emotional and financial burdens, living with PH and other health conditions is an everyday struggle.

Making life a little easier for everyone

But despite the challenges, there are many ways we can make life easier for ourselves and those around us. One way is through education and understanding. We should educate ourselves and our loved ones about the latest PH news and research. Yes, some of your loved ones won't care to learn about PH. You may lose a few friends, but those who stay are the ones you need.

Another way is to find new friends who can relate to our health challenges. They might become some of the closest connections we build.

I'm fortunate to work with Bionews, the parent company of Pulmonary Hypertension News. Bionews serves more than 50 disease communities, and over half of our team either lives with or cares for someone with a rare disease. I've enjoyed working with and creating meaningful friendships with others affected by rare conditions.

It also helps to be open and honest. When people ask how we feel, we may immediately reply, "I'm fine." Too often, it's an automatic response because we don't think most people have time or truly want to know how we feel. But to find those who genuinely care, we must learn to share and be open and honest with them.

My husband, Manny, often reminds me that he can't read my mind. But some days, I struggle to make my needs known, not wanting to seem needy or inconvenient to others. When this occurs, I need to remind myself how good it makes me feel when I can help people and allow others to do the same for me.

While I wasn't thrilled to see that meme in my current mindset, it reminded me that I'm not alone in this struggle. Those of us with chronic illnesses may feel like a burden in our darker seasons, but we press on. Writing helps me process my emotions, and I hope my words benefit others who are facing similar health challenges.

Living with an illness like PH can be mentally and emotionally difficult, especially when others make comments that leave us feeling as if our health issues are an inconvenience or a burden. Those without chronic or rare diseases must understand that we don't want to disrupt their lives. We're just trying to manage our health and navigate life as best we can.

Note: Pulmonary Hypertension News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Pulmonary Hypertension News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to pulmonary hypertension.

Amount Of Normal Lung Volume Linked To PH Prognosis In Study

The amount of normal-looking lung tissue visible on CT scans of the chest can help to predict survival outcomes and response to treatment in people with pulmonary hypertension (PH), a study found.

The study, "Significance of normal lung volume on quantitative computed tomography analysis in Group 1 and Group 3 pulmonary hypertension," was published in CHEST Pulmonary.

PH refers to high pressure in the vessels that carry blood through the lungs. The study looked at two types of PH: group 1 PH, also known as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and group 3 PH, which is when PH develops in someone who has an underlying lung disorder like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Despite recent progress in treatments for PAH, including pulmonary vasodilators (medications that work to lower blood pressure by widening blood vessels), people with group 3 PH typically do not benefit from the same types of therapy. Prognosis can also be difficult to predict in these PH groups, with factors such as the extent of lung disease and of lung function impairment playing key roles.

Scientists in Japan conducted an analysis to see if data obtained from CT scans imaging patients' lungs might help predict patient outcomes.

Possible indicator of treatment response

The researchers specifically focused on a calculation called percent normal lung volume (%NLV), an indicator of how much of a patient's lung tissue looks normal, as opposed to showing signs of disease, on an imaging scan.

In statistical analyses of data from 157 PH patients, the researchers found that individuals with a %NLV of 83.2% or higher had significantly better survival outcomes than those with lower %NLV. For example, based on this cutoff, the five-year survival rate was 81.7% for patients with a high %NLV, compared with just 36.6% for those with a lower %NLV.

"%NLV was identified as a significant independent prognostic factor in patients with PH," the researchers concluded, adding that the data suggest "that even a relatively small reduction in %NLV has a significant impact on the prognosis of patients with PH." The team noted that the results are consistent with those of the ASPIRE registry.

A subanalysis of patients with available data indicated that individuals with higher %NLV also tended to have a better response to treatment with vasodilators. This suggests that "%NLV might be a useful predictor of response to pulmonary vasodilators in patients with PH," the researchers wrote.

Findings also showed that %NLV tended to vary by PH type: in general, individuals with group 1 PH had higher %NLV than those with group 3. This indicates that measuring %NLV "potentially could be useful to distinguish between groups 1 and 3 PH," the scientists wrote.

They noted that the study was limited to analyses of patients at a single institution, highlighting a need for additional research to validate these findings.

Gossamer Bio's Clean Safety Profile Differentiates It From Merck, Analyst Says

Oppenheimer initiated coverage on Gossamer Bio Inc (NASDAQ:GOSS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, with an Outperform rating and a price target of $9.

Gossamer Bio is focused on developing and commercializing seralutinib for pulmonary arterial hypertension. It stands out with its clean long-term safety profile, Oppenheimer said.

Competitors like Merck & Co Inc's (NYSE:MRK) Winrevair require frequent monitoring for hemoglobin increases, thrombocytopenia, and gastrointestinal bleeding. It may require dose reductions or drug holidays.

In May, Gossamer Bio and Italy-based Chiesi Farmaceutici S.P.A entered a global collaboration and license agreement to develop and commercialize seralutinib.

Following the readout of the Phase 2 TORREY Study in patients with PAH, Gossamer initiated the Phase 3 PROSERA Study in 2023.

Gossamer and Chiesi plan to initiate a global Phase 3 registrational study in pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD) in mid-2025 and to evaluate seralutinib in additional indications.

Oppenheimer says including Japanese trial sites could help seralutinib gain approval in Japan, the world's second-largest PAH market, and attract potential partnerships. Additionally, delays for WInrevair in Europe underscore the importance of opportunities outside the U.S.

Seralutinib's safety and efficacy profile are "a preferred choice among severe PAH patients who are not adequately served by currently available therapies (~65% take 2-3 drugs)," analysts noted.

The analyst adds that Gossamer has strategically positioned seralutinib to enter large, underserved markets such as Japan. "We see shares trading below cash as creating an attractive entry point at current levels."

With pro forma cash of $396 million providing sufficient runway into the second quarter of 2026 and shares currently trading below cash, this can be seen as an attractive entry for long-term investors.

Price Action: GOSS shares are up 21.1% at $1.00 at last check Tuesday.

Now Read: Chipmakers, Cruise Lines, Crypto Rally, Nvidia Reclaims $3 Trillion; Blue Chips, Small Caps Dip: What's Driving Markets Tuesday?

---