Inflammation triggers silent mutation to cause deadly lung disease.

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Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found that inflammation in the lungs of rats, triggered by something as simple as the flu, may wake up a silent genetic defect that causes sudden onset cases of pulmonary hypertension, a deadly form of high blood pressure in the lungs.

“It’s a kind of one-two punch,” said Amy Tian, PhD, senior research scientist in pulmonary and critical care. “Basically, the first hit is the mutation, and the second hit is inflammation in the arteries of the lungs. You can be healthy and carrying this mutation, and all of the sudden you get a bacterial or viral infection, and it leads to this terrible disease. ”

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