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Methamphetamine-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in a Japanese Pulmonary Hypertension Referral Center

Fujisaki S, Kuraishi A, Takano R, Hayashi H, Asano R, Ogo T

Circulation reports, 2026

363 participants

Abstract

Background: Methamphetamine-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (Meth-PAH) is increasingly recognized in Western countries, but Japanese data remain limited.

Methods and results: Of 363 patients with PAH, we identified 5 patients with Meth-PAH (1.4%); 4 were women, with a mean age of 37.6±7.2 years. Patients receiving PAH-specific therapy showed favorable hemodynamic responses, although 40% of patients experienced treatment discontinuation and methamphetamine reuse.

Conclusions: In this case series of 5 Japanese patients with Meth-PAH, there was a high rate of treatment discontinuation and methamphetamine reuse, which suggests possible underdiagnosis of Meth-PAH and barriers to sustained care in Japan.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health. Reported size: 363 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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