Brasília – A popular TV drama is bringing attention to the difficulties faced by patients with rare lung diseases in Brazil. In the series Três Graças, the character Lígia — portrayed by Dira Paes — is diagnosed with ‎Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a condition marked by elevated blood pressure in the lung arteries that overworks the heart’s right side. The narrative reflects real-life challenges including delayed diagnosis and access to effective treatment.

According to specialists cited in the report, patients with PAH often endure misdiagnoses (such as asthma or anxiety) for years before receiving a correct diagnosis. Some of the complications highlighted include limited access to advanced diagnostics like right-heart catheterization and inadequate treatment options. The article also mentions other rare pulmonary disorders such as Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP), underscoring the broader systemic gap in care for rare respiratory diseases in Brazil.

Source: Agência Einstein (via Estadão)