Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42089011›Full record

ArticleCase reports in pulmonology2026

Pulmonary Hypertension Following the Use of Trastuzumab Biosimilars.

Timi Ojo, Kory Cablay, Neveen Emara, Armin Meyer

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Case reports in pulmonology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Timi OjoUniversity of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, Greenville, South Carolina, USA, sc.edu.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6746-368X
Kory CablayDepartment of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Prisma Health, Greenville, South Carolina, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5141-6298
Neveen EmaraDepartment of Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine, Prisma Health, Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
Armin MeyerDepartment of Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine, Prisma Health, Greenville, South Carolina, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: HER2-positive breast cancer comprises 14%-20% of breast cancer cases and was previously linked with aggressive progression. Trastuzumab and its biosimilars have improved survival significantly, but their pulmonary toxicities remain underrecognized. While left ventricular dysfunction is a well-documented adverse effect, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and right heart failure are rarely reported. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 53-year-old woman with Stage IV HER2-positive invasive ductal carcinoma and well-controlled HIV who presented with shortness of breath, edema, and weakness. She previously completed five cycles of trastuzumab biosimilars (trastuzumab-anns or trastuzumab-dttb), Perjeta (pertuzumab), and Taxotere (docetaxel) and then transitioned to maintenance therapy with just trastuzumab-anns and pertuzumab for one cycle due to neuropathy. Pretreatment and interim echocardiograms showed preserved left ventricular and right ventricular function. Shortly after her last trastuzumab dose, she was hospitalized with severe anasarca, bilateral pleural effusions, and respiratory failure. Right heart catheterization revealed severe precapillary pulmonary hypertension (mPAP 40 mmHg [normal < 20 mmHg], PAWP 8 mmHg [normal ≤ 15 mmHg]), consistent with WHO Group I PAH. Despite aggressive diuresis and respiratory support, her condition deteriorated, and she elected for comfort-focused care. Discussion: Although rare, pulmonary vascular complications such as PAH have been linked to HER2-targeted therapies. Reports from clinical trials, FAERS data, and national registries have documented cases of trastuzumab-associated PAH, suggesting a possible vascular mechanism, potentially through ACVRL1 pathway involvement. This case highlights the importance of considering pulmonary hypertension as a potential adverse event in patients on trastuzumab, particularly those with pulmonary metastases. Conclusion: Clinicians should be aware of pulmonary complications in patients receiving HER2-targeted therapies, even when left ventricular function is preserved. Early recognition and monitoring of right-sided pressures in high-risk patients may improve outcomes. This case adds to emerging evidence on trastuzumab's pulmonary risks.

Identifiers

PMID42089011
PMCPMC13137119

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.