Terguride for pulmonary arterial hypertension

Abstract

Introduction: The serotonin pathway was initially identified as a major player in the pathogenesis of a subset of anorexigen-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). It has subsequently been shown to be involved in other forms of PAH.

Areas covered: In preclinical experiments, terguride (an anatagonist of type 2 serotonin receptors) was found to reduce proliferation of smooth muscle cells and accumulation of collagen, and decrease pulmonary arterial pressure.

Expert opinion: Most therapies currently available for PAH primarily tackle vasoconstriction and endothelial dysfunction, whereas vascular remodeling, which is an early pathogenic event in PAH development, is secondary. If terguride demonstrates a prominent antiremodelling effect in PAH, it could be used as a specific therapy for this rare disease.

Keywords:

• pulmonary arterial hypertension
• serotonin
• terguride
• vascular remodeling