Medical advances
over 15 years...
PHA UK celebrated its 15th anniversary this year. During the decade and half that the charity has existed, we have seen amazing advancements in drugs, treatments and therapies for those affected by pulmonary hypertension. There is plenty more we hope to see improved and achieved through further research and development, but here are some of the key steps taken to a better prognosis for PH patients over the past 15 years.
2003
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PHA UK formed , their families patients with PH vance PH d and carers an ad the UK. in re ca d treatment an
SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
2001 Epoprost enol is
approved use in th for e shows it UK af ter evidenc is ef fec ti e ve fo with adv anced or r those progress rapidly ing This is a p PH symptoms. drug con rostaglandin tin intraveno uously infused Hickman usly through a or Grosh ong line.
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Consultant Pharmacist Neil Hamilton says:
"As with lots of rare diseases, not all of the treatments we use are licensed like the ones on our timeline, but this doesn’t mean they are not helpful or commonly prescribed. Medicines such as treprostinil and iloprost, which for one reason or another have never been licensed in the UK, have been used to treat patients with significant PH since the late 1990s."
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WINTER 2015 emphasis 26
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Iloprost (brand-n din approved another prostaglan drug needs is Th for use in the UK. a nebuliser g in us to be inhaled ever y three hours.Â
Over the last decade we have witnessed major advances in drug and surgical treatment that have significantly improved the outcome for PH patients. The UK has been at the forefront of research and development in pulmonary hypertension, but perhaps most importantly, recognised over ten years ago that integrated clinical pathways are key in allowing patients to access high quality diagnostics, treatments and support networks. The provision of a network of national specialist centres in 2001 was the first step in this journey‌ The UK now has a model of care which is highly respected throughout the world.
David Kiely, Chair of UK and Ireland Pulmonary Hypertension Physicians Committee
