Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive, debilitating, and potentially fatal disease. Symptoms of PAH are non-specific and may include dyspnea, fatigue, chest discomfort, pre-syncope/syncope, palpitations, lower extremity swelling, non-specific gastro-intestinal symptoms, weight loss, and cyanosis. Pulmonologists are increasingly involved in the care of these patients, whether at the initial presentation and diagnosis, medication titration, or for symptom relief and management of complications. The pulmonologist and intensivist also frequently care for patients that are at an increased risk of developing PAH, such as patients with cirrhosis, hypoxic lung disease, scleroderma, sickle cell disease, and HIV to name a few. An echocardiogram, although often inaccurate in estimating the right-sided heart pressures, is the best screening tool for PAH. A right heart catheterization is the gold standard for diagnosing PAH. Supplemental therapies may include oxygen, diuretics, and anticoagulation. In addition to the limited role of calciumchannel blockers, PAH-specific therapies fall into one of 3 families for now: Phospho-diesterase-5 inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonists, and prostacyclins. The current estimated 2 year survival of PAH patients now exceeds 90%, compared to a historical median survival of 2-3 years.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.