Pulmonary hypertension is a common clinical syndrome, which seriously affects the quality of
life and survival of patients. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined as an increase in mean
pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) to ≥20 mmHg at rest as measured invasively by right heart
catheterisation (RHC). Pulmonary hypertension can be divided into five types, among which
pulmonary hypertension caused by chronic pulmonary diseases and/or hypoxia is called Group 3
pulmonary hypertension, which is the most important factor of pulmonary heart disease. The
drugs currently used to treat patients with PAH (prostanoids, endothelin receptor
antagonists, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, sGC stimulators) have not been sufficiently
investigated in Group 3 PH, except indirect treatment methods such as improving hypoxia and
controlling infection.
Recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) is a biological agent with a molecular
weight of 3664Da synthesized by DNA technology. It is availble in China. It has many
functions such as diuresis, vasodilation, inhibition of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and
sympathetic nervous systems, etc. RhBNP has been suggested in patients with acute myocardial
infarction and congestive heart failure. In view of the dilating effect of rhBNP on pulmonary
vessels, it is speculated that rhBNP may reduce type 3 pulmonary hypertension. Based on this
hypothesis, we conducted a preliminary clinical trial. The results showed that, compared with
the placebo group, after rhBNP was continuously pumped for 24 hours, the pulmonary artery
hemodynamic indexes continuously monitored by Swan-Ganz catheter were significantly improved.
In view of the pharmacological effect of rhBNP and our previous clinical trial results, this
study intends to conduct a prospective, multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind
clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rhBNP in the treatment of patients with
group 3 pulmonary hypertension.