Longitudinal Outcomes of Patients With Group 3 Pulmonary Hypertension Treated With Iloprost

Overview

This observational real-world study aims to evaluate the longitudinal clinical outcomes of adult patients with Group 3 pulmonary hypertension (PH), associated with chronic lung diseases such as interstitial lung disease, who are treated with inhaled iloprost in routine clinical practice. Treatment options for Group 3 PH remain limited, and the use of pulmonary vasodilators is controversial due to potential worsening of gas exchange. Inhaled iloprost may provide a more selective approach by targeting well-ventilated lung regions. However, real-world data on its use in this population are scarce. The primary objective of this study is to assess changes in clinical risk status over time using the COMPERA 2.0 four-stratum risk model. Secondary objectives include describing patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and the evolution of functional parameters and biomarkers, as well as documenting relevant clinical events such as hospitalizations, treatment escalation, and discontinuation. The study will retrospectively analyze data from approximately 50 adult patients with confirmed Group 3 PH who received inhaled iloprost as part of their routine care in a specialized pulmonary hypertension center. No additional patient contact or interventions will occur.

Group 3 pulmonary hypertension (PH), associated with chronic lung diseases such as interstitial lung disease, represents a common and clinically challenging PH phenotype, frequently associated with reduced exercise capacity, increased oxygen requirements, and higher mortality. Unlike pulmonary arterial hypertension (Group 1), where targeted therapies have demonstrated clear benefits, treatment options for Group 3 PH remain limited and are primarily focused on management of the underlying lung disease and supportive measures. The use of systemic pulmonary vasodilators in this population is controversial due to the potential risk of worsening ventilation-perfusion mismatch and hypoxemia. Inhaled prostacyclin analogues may offer a more selective therapeutic approach by preferentially targeting well-ventilated lung regions, potentially mitigating these risks. Inhaled iloprost, approved for pulmonary arterial hypertension, has been used off-label in selected patients with Group 3 PH; however, available evidence is limited and largely derived from small or short-term studies. Data describing real-world patient profiles, treatment patterns, and longitudinal clinical outcomes remain scarce. Risk stratification has become a key component of disease monitoring in pulmonary hypertension. The COMPERA 2.0 model, which incorporates clinical and non-invasive parameters into a four-stratum risk framework, has demonstrated sensitivity to detect prognostically meaningful changes over time. This retrospective observational study aims to characterize the clinical evolution of patients with Group 3 PH treated with inhaled iloprost in routine practice. The primary focus is the longitudinal change in risk status according to the COMPERA 2.0 four-stratum model. In addition, the study will explore changes in functional parameters such as WHO functional class and six-minute walk distance, biomarker trends when available, patterns of iloprost use (including monotherapy or combination therapy), and the occurrence of relevant clinical events such as hospitalizations, treatment escalation, and treatment discontinuation. Data will be obtained from existing medical records of patients followed in a specialized pulmonary hypertension center, without additional patient contact or intervention.