Pulmonary arterial hypertension

Intern Emerg Med. 2009 Dec;4(6):459-70. doi: 10.1007/s11739-009-0263-2.

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease with significant disability and mortality, and it has much higher prevalence than previously thought. During the past 15 years, we have witnessed remarkable advances in our understanding of pathogenesis, in diagnostic process and in the development of disease-specific treatments for PAH. Nowadays, the diagnosis is more clearly defined, non-invasive markers of disease severity can be widely applied, and finally we can adopt evidence-based treatment. Newer drugs availability has resulted in radical change in the management of this disease. The article reviews established approaches to evaluation and treatment of this disorder.

MeSH terms

  • Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / epidemiology
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / physiopathology
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / surgery
  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Prognosis
  • Prostaglandins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
  • Prostaglandins