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The PEX-NET (Pulmonary hemodynamics during exercise – research network) Clinical Research Collaboration was launched by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) in 2017.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is diagnosed by elevated mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) at rest and can lead to chronic right heart failure and increased mortality. Exercise PH has been included to the hemodynamic definitions of PH by the 2022 ESC/ERS PH guidelines and characterises an abnormal rise in PAP during exercise, which may indicate early pulmonary vascular disease and cause exertional dyspnea. This CRC aims to study the clinical implications of exercise-induced pulmonary hemodynamics through large-scale, multi-centre data analysis.
The CRC has made significant progress recently, with more than 20 international expert centres contributing. The target for patient inclusion in the retrospective arm was reached, and statistical analysis confirmed that exercise PH is independently associated with mortality, beyond resting hemodynamics. Currently, the analysis of further research questions in the retrospective dataset is underway. In addition, more than 700 patients have been enrolled in the prospective arm.
The CRC is on track to become the leading research platform for pulmonary hemodynamics during exercise. The main objectives for the following years are to:
The CRC PEX-NET is composed of the CRC Chairs, experts in the field, early career members, and patient representatives.
If you are interested in more information on the CRC PEX-NET or would like to join the network, please contact scientific@ersnet.org.
Prognostic relevance of exercise pulmonary hypertension: results of the multicentre PEX-NET Clinical Research Collaboration
Kovacs G, Humbert M, Avian A, et al. Eur Respir J 2024; in press (https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.00698-2024)