Background: Right ventricular hypertrophy and elevated pulmonary arterial pressure are the results of abnormal pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) migration and proliferation, which causes pulmonary vascular remodelling and pulmonary hypertension (PH), which is still a fatal condition. It has been observed that the secreted glycoprotein follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) reduces tissue remodeling in cardiovascular injury. The function of FSTL1 in aberrant pulmonary arteries is still unknown, though.

Aim: To evaluate the relation between follistatin-like 1 protein and hypoxia induced pulmonary hypertension.

Methods: This case control study was conducted in Pediatrics & Medical Biochemistry Departments, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University on 39 subjects divided into three groups: group (I):13subjects with no history of pulmonary or cardiovascular diseases and not receiving any medication as control group , group (II): 13 patients with pulmonary hypertension and no history of pulmonary diseases and group (III):13 patient with hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. FSTL1 was measured in all subjects.

Results: FSTL1 levels were significantly increased in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertensive patients compared to normal cases and pulmonary hypertensive patients without hypoxia.

Conclusion: FSTL1 was found to be a significant predictor of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in pediatrics.