129Xenon MR Imaging and Spectroscopy Response to Sotatercept in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

The researchers hypothesize that 129Xe MRI/MRS biomarker signatures of pulmonary vascular remodeling will predict short- and long-term response and efficacy to PAH patients who are receiving sotatercept as clinical standard-of-care. At baseline (prior to the treatment with sotatercept), 3, and 12 months of follow-up, the research team will perform 129Xe MRI/MRS scans. 129Xe MRI/MRS metrics, including: (1) 129Xe MRI ventilation defect (reflecting gas exchange abnormalities), (2)129Xe MRI RBC defect percentage (reflecting pulmonary capillary blood volume), (3) 129Xe MRI membrane uptake percentage (reflecting lung interstitial wall thick-ness and inflammation), and (4) 129Xe MRS oscillation amplitude (reflecting degree of pre/post-capillary PH) as well as standard-of-care assessments including labs, echocardiography, NTproBNP and 6MWD will be acquired at each visit. The investigators expect that 129Xe MRI/MRS biomarker signatures will improve prediction of treatment response and clinical outcomes (hospitalizations and death) compared to standard risk assessment with functional class, 6MWD, and NTproBNP.

This study would allow an assessment of sotatercept's role in promoting pulmonary vascular reverse remodeling. It could also improve outcome assessment in clinical trials to a biomarker that is more accurate and precise, thus allowing greater reliability in assessment of treatment effect and allowing smaller clinical trial size. Lastly, three-dimensional functional lung imaging could provide greater individualized assessment of lung function and tailoring of therapy, thus optimizing precision and personalized medicine.

PAH is characterized by obstructive vasculopathy of the pulmonary arterioles that results in right heart failure and death. The pulmonary vascular remodeling in PAH includes neointimal proliferation, medial hypertrophy, plexiform arteriopathy, and fibrosis; these changes can also differ between these subtypes. This results in specific changes in cardiac and pulmonary physiology, most notably: (1) an increase in the pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) through the blood vessels due to their obstruction; and (2) a decrease in sur-face area and capillary blood volume for gas exchange through disruption of the normal capillary-alveolar interface with a decrease in the diffusion limit for carbon monoxide (DLCO). The increase in PVR results in increased afterload on the right heart, resulting in right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and failure. Similarly, gas exchange abnormalities contribute to decreased ventilatory efficiency and exercise limitation. Current treatments, which target the prostacyclin, endothelin-1, or nitric oxide pathways, slow disease progression. However, these drugs are thought to act largely through vasodilation, and not through remodeling. For that reason, the 5-year survival rate in PAH is still only approximately 60%, highlighting the need for therapies targeting pulmonary vascular remodeling pathways.