Kansas City, Kan- Doctors Steve Stites and Tim Williamson discussed pulmonary hypertension, emphasizing the importance of early detection and proper treatment.

They discussed the various types of pulmonary hypertension, their underlying causes, and the importance of identifying the specific type to determine the appropriate treatment. They also touched on the challenges of getting new drugs approved by the FDA and making them accessible to patients, with potential cost implications.

This is an encore presentation due to weather.

Dr. Steve Stites, Chief Medical Officer, The University of Kansas Health System; Executive Vice Chancellor, The University of Kansas Medical Center

• The pulmonology hypertension program here at The University of Kansas Health System is one of the largest and best programs in the country.
• Pulmonary hypertension is a very difficult disease to manage and can be rapidly fatal if it is not treated.
• Several new drugs recently introduced have helped patients significantly manage their symptoms.

Dr. Tim Williamson, pulmonologist, vice president of quality and safety, The University of Kansas Health System

• Williamson notes that the average time to diagnosis for primary pulmonary hypertension is two to three years, despite education and outreach efforts.
• He highlights the significance of a new drug trial for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), with 40% of patients experiencing improvement in their pressures and walk distance after 24 weeks on the drug.

Dr. Lewis Satterwhite, pulmonologist, medical director, medical ICUs, The University of Kansas Health System

• Pulmonary hypertension means that you have high blood pressure in the blood vessels going from the heart to the lungs.
• There can be many different causes, which require very specific treatments.

Ashleigh MacGillivray, living with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension

• In 2020, she collapsed while going up the stairs and was taken to the ER.
• She had very abnormal tests and was referred to a cardiologist and doctors eventually diagnosed her with very rare, but significant pulmonary arterial hypertension.
• She encourages others in this situation to not lose hope and to use your faith. For others, she asks them to please donate to research.