Despite their beneficial effects in treating heart disease, neither aspirin nor simvastatin appear to offer benefit to patients suffering from pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH), according to a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study conducted at four U.S. medical centers. This was the first NIH-funded randomized clinical trial (RCT) in PAH. The results of the study will be presented at the ATS 2011 International Conference in Denver. PAH is a progressive, incurable disease characterized by increased blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, which causes shortness of breath, dizziness and fatigue, and can lead to heart failure and death. PAH can occur on its own or be associated with other conditions, such as connective tissue diseases and congenital heart disease.
