This book describes the role of extracellular and
intracellular calcium in hypoxic pulmonary
vasoconstriction (HPV) which can lead to pulmonary
hypertension. In the lungs, HPV can markedly raise
pulmonary arterial pressure. A temporary, moderate
rise in pressure may not be damaging; however,
persistent hypertension (due to chronic hypoxia) can
lead to right heart failure and pulmonary
oedema. Acute HPV can arise from any clinical
condition which results in alveolar hypoxia e.g.
causes of airway obstruction including asthma,
ventilatory insufficiency caused by neurological
defects, deformities of the thoracic skeleton, or
lung damage. Chronic HPV, by contrast, is usually
irreversible due to re-modelling of the pulmonary
vasculature casued by diseases such as emphysema.
This book presents experimental data supporting the
thesis that calcium sensitization mediates HPV. The
role of caffeine, ryanodine, NADH and cyclic ADP
ribose (cADPR) levels in calcium sensitization are
explored as potential new therapeutic targets for
pulmonary hypertension.
intracellular calcium in hypoxic pulmonary
vasoconstriction (HPV) which can lead to pulmonary
hypertension. In the lungs, HPV can markedly raise
pulmonary arterial pressure. A temporary, moderate
rise in pressure may not be damaging; however,
persistent hypertension (due to chronic hypoxia) can
lead to right heart failure and pulmonary
oedema. Acute HPV can arise from any clinical
condition which results in alveolar hypoxia e.g.
causes of airway obstruction including asthma,
ventilatory insufficiency caused by neurological
defects, deformities of the thoracic skeleton, or
lung damage. Chronic HPV, by contrast, is usually
irreversible due to re-modelling of the pulmonary
vasculature casued by diseases such as emphysema.
This book presents experimental data supporting the
thesis that calcium sensitization mediates HPV. The
role of caffeine, ryanodine, NADH and cyclic ADP
ribose (cADPR) levels in calcium sensitization are
explored as potential new therapeutic targets for
pulmonary hypertension.