Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease characterized by an elevation in pulmonary artery pressure that can lead to right ventricular failure and death. The pulmonary circulation has to accommodate the entire cardiac output in each cardiac cycle and evolution has adapted to this by making it a low-pressure high-flow system. However, pathology can affect both the arterial and venous components of this system. Pulmonary venous hypertension mainly refers to diseases that result in elevated venous pressure and occurs mainly from mitral valve and left-sided heart disease. Standard treatment options include oral anticoagulation, diuretics, oxygen supplementation, and for a small percentage of patients, calcium channel blockers. Newer treatments include prostacyclin analogues, endothelin receptor antago¬nists, and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. This article reviews the current treatments strategies for PAH and provides guidelines for its management.
Highlights
In recent years, there has been outstanding progress in diagnostic information, pathophysiology and especially pulmonary hypertension (D’Alonzo et al, 1991)
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease characterized by an elevation in pulmonary artery pressure that can lead to right ventricular failure and death
In a French study on 674 patients suffering from PH, 39% was diagnosed as primary pulmonary hypertension. 80% of the patients during the functional diagnostic classes of 3 & 4 and the average test of 6 minutes had an activity of 325 meters (Giaid et al, 1993; Newman et al, 2008; Roberts et al, 1997)
Summary
There has been outstanding progress in diagnostic information, pathophysiology and especially pulmonary hypertension (D’Alonzo et al, 1991). We have a bulk of knowledge on molecular and cellular factors involved in causing disease. Breakthroughs of diagnostic methods and radiography have eased the diagnostic and separation of secondary factors. The emergence of new and rather useful therapies has increased their fate and longevity. Many studies are directed at idiopathic formerly called primary pulmonary hypertension. Considering with significant progress in therapies, classification of diagnostic methods, it is essential to revision of the novel findings (D’Alonzo et al, 1991; Rubin, 1997)
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