Pulmonary hypertension – pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment

Abstract:

Pulmonary hypertension is a complex group of diseases characterized by a common denominator: elevated pressure in the pulmonary circulation. The etiology of pulmonary hypertension is various. The first step in successful treatment of pulmonary hypertension is early detection of this serious and potentially fatal disease. It is very important to suspect the disease and to refer a patient to additional diagnostic procedures. Echocardiography is the most effective diagnostic screening method today, indirectly measuring pressures in the pulmonary circulation and assessing the function of the right heart. The final diagnostic method proving pulmonary hypertension is the right heart catheterization. Different medications are used for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension: calcium channel antagonists, prostaglandins, endothelin receptor antagonists and phosphodieserase inhibitors. Patients in whom medication is not effective, lung transplantation remains a final treatment option. 

Key words:
echocardiography; idiopathic pulmonary vascular resistance; screening; pulmonary hypertension