Environmental factors contributing to PH

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined at cardiac catheterization, by a resting elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of >25 mmHg.

- Dr. G Ravi Kumar Cardiologist, Visakhapatnam

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined at cardiac catheterization, by a resting elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of >25 mmHg. This should be in the absence of an elevated pulmonary artery wedge pressure. There is a characteristic endovascular occlusion of the smallest pulmonary arteries, caused by proliferation of cells and matrix together with thrombosis and vasospasm. Increased pulmonary vascular resistance can lead to death through right ventricular failure.

The diagnosis of PH has become relevant now that treatment such as lung transplantation and intravenous prostacyclin have proved effective in prolonging and improving quality of life. Also advances in technology, in particular the non-invasive measurement of systolic pulmonary artery pressure with M-mode echodoppler, have allowed screening for the disease in mildly symptomatic patients.