Mild to moderate pulmonary hypertension is a common complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); such a complication is associated with increased risks of exacerbation and decreased survival. A small proportion of COPD patients may present with severe pulmonary hypertension, defined by a mean pulmonary artery pressure more than 35 mmHg (or more than 20 mmHg with a low cardiac index \< 2 l/min/m2) with pulmonary vascular resistance more than 3 Wood units, measured by right heart catheterization (RHC). In these patients, pulmonary microvessels remodeling is the main cause of increase in pulmonary arterial pressure and is thought to result from the combined effects of hypoxia, inflammation, and loss of capillaries but the mechanisms are complex. For these patients, no drugs have been approved for treatment and lung transplantation must be considered for the more severe patients who are eligible. A better characterization of these patients is needed. We hypothesize that microvesicles generation and endothelial damage could be related to the severity of pulmonary hypertension due to COPD, assessed by pulmonary hemodynamic parameters. Circulating biomarkers of vascular damage and cell activation will be measured in blood samples from 80 COPD patients who have hemodynamic assessment by RHC. To go further, the origin of the particles will be characterized.
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Study the rate of circulating endothelial microparticles (EPPs) according to the severity of pulmonary hypertension associated with COPD.
Timeframe: - During the first hemodynamic assessment by RHC; - At 3 to 6 months, if hemodynamic control is required (RHC)