The genetic epidemiology and genotype-phenotype correlations among Chinese children with idiopathic and heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension

Abstract Objective This study aims to analyze the genetic characteristics, genotype-phenotype correlation and long-term prognosis of children with idiopathic/hereditary pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH/HPAH) in a Chinese tertiary medical center. Methods A retrospective review was conducted for...

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Main Authors: Yuan He, Qiangqiang Li, Chen Zhang, Bradley B. Keller, Yiping Shen, Hong Gu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Respiratory Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03249-y
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author Yuan He
Qiangqiang Li
Chen Zhang
Bradley B. Keller
Yiping Shen
Hong Gu
author_facet Yuan He
Qiangqiang Li
Chen Zhang
Bradley B. Keller
Yiping Shen
Hong Gu
author_sort Yuan He
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective This study aims to analyze the genetic characteristics, genotype-phenotype correlation and long-term prognosis of children with idiopathic/hereditary pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH/HPAH) in a Chinese tertiary medical center. Methods A retrospective review was conducted for all children with IPAH/HPAH treated at Beijing Anzhen Hospital over the past 15 years. All patients underwent genetic testing. Results In total, 170 children with IPAH/HPAH were included in the study (females n = 95, 56%), with a median age of diagnosis 6.46 (3.80, 10.70) years. The study population presented with severe conditions at baseline, with 77 patients assessed as clinically high-risk. Genetic testing identified pathogenic variants in 110 patients (64%), with BMPR2, ACVRL1, and TBX4 accounted for the main causal genes. Compared to non-carriers, carriers of pathogenic variants had a higher clinical risk at baseline (54% vs. 30%, p = 0.04). After targeted therapy, carriers experienced greater clinical deterioration (p = 0.008). The overall follow-up duration was 2.68 (1.60, 4.98) years, with the survival rate at 1-, 3-, and 5-year was 93.4%, 86.7%, and 68.6%, respectively. The prognosis of carriers was significantly worse than that of non-carriers (Log-rank p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that pathogenic variants and higher pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) and were associated with a higher risk of death. Conclusion We uncovered a higher rate of pathogenic variants in Chinese pediatric PAH, while targeted therapy improves the overall prognosis of children with PAH, patients with pathogenic variants presented with poorer response to therapy and poorer prognosis.
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spelling doaj-art-e37f648660f7448385d97e1f1f443fb22025-08-20T04:01:40ZengBMCRespiratory Research1465-993X2025-07-0126111110.1186/s12931-025-03249-yThe genetic epidemiology and genotype-phenotype correlations among Chinese children with idiopathic and heritable pulmonary arterial hypertensionYuan He0Qiangqiang Li1Chen Zhang2Bradley B. Keller3Yiping Shen4Hong Gu5Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityCincinnati Children’s Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical CenterDivision of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Pediatric Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityAbstract Objective This study aims to analyze the genetic characteristics, genotype-phenotype correlation and long-term prognosis of children with idiopathic/hereditary pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH/HPAH) in a Chinese tertiary medical center. Methods A retrospective review was conducted for all children with IPAH/HPAH treated at Beijing Anzhen Hospital over the past 15 years. All patients underwent genetic testing. Results In total, 170 children with IPAH/HPAH were included in the study (females n = 95, 56%), with a median age of diagnosis 6.46 (3.80, 10.70) years. The study population presented with severe conditions at baseline, with 77 patients assessed as clinically high-risk. Genetic testing identified pathogenic variants in 110 patients (64%), with BMPR2, ACVRL1, and TBX4 accounted for the main causal genes. Compared to non-carriers, carriers of pathogenic variants had a higher clinical risk at baseline (54% vs. 30%, p = 0.04). After targeted therapy, carriers experienced greater clinical deterioration (p = 0.008). The overall follow-up duration was 2.68 (1.60, 4.98) years, with the survival rate at 1-, 3-, and 5-year was 93.4%, 86.7%, and 68.6%, respectively. The prognosis of carriers was significantly worse than that of non-carriers (Log-rank p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that pathogenic variants and higher pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) and were associated with a higher risk of death. Conclusion We uncovered a higher rate of pathogenic variants in Chinese pediatric PAH, while targeted therapy improves the overall prognosis of children with PAH, patients with pathogenic variants presented with poorer response to therapy and poorer prognosis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03249-yChildrenGenotypePhenotypePrognosisPulmonary arterial hypertensionTreatment
spellingShingle Yuan He
Qiangqiang Li
Chen Zhang
Bradley B. Keller
Yiping Shen
Hong Gu
The genetic epidemiology and genotype-phenotype correlations among Chinese children with idiopathic and heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension
Respiratory Research
Children
Genotype
Phenotype
Prognosis
Pulmonary arterial hypertension
Treatment
title The genetic epidemiology and genotype-phenotype correlations among Chinese children with idiopathic and heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension
title_full The genetic epidemiology and genotype-phenotype correlations among Chinese children with idiopathic and heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension
title_fullStr The genetic epidemiology and genotype-phenotype correlations among Chinese children with idiopathic and heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension
title_full_unstemmed The genetic epidemiology and genotype-phenotype correlations among Chinese children with idiopathic and heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension
title_short The genetic epidemiology and genotype-phenotype correlations among Chinese children with idiopathic and heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension
title_sort genetic epidemiology and genotype phenotype correlations among chinese children with idiopathic and heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension
topic Children
Genotype
Phenotype
Prognosis
Pulmonary arterial hypertension
Treatment
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03249-y
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