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erlenmyer-research
Research group/lab

Pulmonary Hypertension

Research focus on pulmonary hypertension (PH) is focused around two themes: the role of inflammation in PH and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and improvement of quality of life for patients with PH/PAH.

About our research group/lab

Our research

What is the overall aim?
We study the role of inflammation in PH, PAH and chronic thromboembolic PH (CETPH) in clinical setting, as well as in a translational setting. We use a newly developed mouse model, the CD-20 knock out mouse, which develops PH spontaneously, to study the role of inflammation and more specifically, the role of dendritic cells in PH. We also study potential treatments that counteract the inflammation and eventually prevent the development of PH in these mice. In collaboration with Cambridge, we study the role of BMPR-2 in this model and in a BMPR-2 knock out model.

What type of research do you focus on in this group?
Currently, we are validating the CAMPHOR questionnaire together with a newer questionnaire, the EMPHASIS, in a prospective study in collaboration with the St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein. We studied the effects of a completely out-patient multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. The outcome parameters comprise physical parameters as well as quality of life. We extended this study to investigate the role of inflammation. Recently we started a collaboration with the University of Wageningen to investigate the role of nutrients in patients with pulmonary hypertension. We will study the nutrition state of our patients at baseline and the development during their disease course while being on medication.

Key Publications

Geenen LW, Baggen VJM, Koudstaal T, Boomars KA, Eindhoven JA, Boersma E, Roos-Hesselink JW, van den Bosch AE. The prognostic value of various biomarkers in adults with pulmonary hypertension; a multi-biomarker approach. Am Heart J. 208:91-99

The effects of a 10-weeks outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program on exercise performance, muscle strength and quality of life in patients with pulmonary hypertension. T. Koudstaal*¹, M. Wapenaar*¹, D. van Ranst, R. Beesems, L. van den Toorn, P.P. Chandoesing, K.A. Boomars. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention, 2019 Nov;39(6):397-402. doi: 10.109.

Protease Activated Receptor 1 as potential therapeutic target in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Merkus D, Heleen van Beusekom HHM , Boomars KA, Daphne Merkus. Cardiovascular Research 2019, Jul1; 115:1260-1261 doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvz071.

Dendritic cell subsets and effector function in idiopathic and connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension. Van Uden D, Boomars K, Kool M. Front Immunol. 2019 Jan 22;10:11. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00011. eCollection 2019. Review.

The prognostic value of various biomarkers in adults with pulmonary hypertension; a multi-biomarker approach. Geenen LW, Baggen VJM, Koudstaal T, Boomars KA, Eindhoven JA, Boersma E, Roos-Hesselink JW, van den Bosch AE. Am Heart J. 2019 Feb;208:91-99. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2018.11.001. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

Adaptation and validation of the Cambridge Pulmonary Hypertension Outcome Review (CAMPHOR) for the Netherlands. Wapenaar M, Twiss J, Wagenaar M, Seijkens P, van den Toorn L, Stepanous J, Heaney A, van den Bosch A, Boomars KA. Neth Heart J. 2016 Jun;24(6):417-424. doi: 10.1007/s12471-016-0849-z. Erratum in: Neth Heart J. 2018 Nov;26(11):579.

Collaborations

Internal collaborations

  • Cardiology
  • Pediatric cardiology
  • Neonatology

External collaborations

  • St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein
  • University of Wageningen
  • Papworth Hospital, Cambridge (UK)

Our team

Dr. Karin Boomars