Metabolomics in PH: detection, risk prediction, monitoring

Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) is a severe cardiovascular disorder characterized by increased blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, leading to right heart failure and reduced oxygen supply to the body. This disease, which comprises several subtypes with different etiologies, remains a major clinical challenge due to its progressive nature and limited treatment options. Recent advances in the field of metabolomics have begun to shed light on the metabolic disturbances associated with PH, offering new insights into the pathophysiology and potential therapeutic targets. Metabolic alterations in PH involve multiple pathways, including glycolysis and lipid metabolism which collectively contribute to disease progression and severity. Metabolic changes in PH are not only a consequence of the disease, but actively contribute to pathogenesis through mechanisms such as vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. Our research aims to deepen the understanding of metabolic alterations in PH and their clinical implications. By integrating metabolomic profiling with clinical, hemodynamic and functional data as well as outcomes in PH patients, we aim to identify metabolic fingerprints that may serve as biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of therapeutic response. Our interdisciplinary team utilizes a comprehensive metabolomics approach, analyzing plasma samples from PH patients and control subjects combined with state-of-the-art bioinformatics and statistical tools to identify and validate metabolic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.