Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an increased level of blood pressure in the vessels conducting blood through the lungs, from the right side to the left side of the heart. PH is a common pathway for many diseases involving the body's connective tissues, the liver, as well the body's white and red blood cells. Pulmonary hypertension can also be seen when there is malfunction of the left side of the heart, as well as with sleep apnea. There are times when the reason for a patient's pulmonary hypertension cannot be identified; these cases are referred to as "idiopathic" pulmonary hypertension (IPAH).
Until 1996, therapy for the PH patient was largely limited to supplementing oxygen if needed, as well as medication to help the heart beat more effectively. Treatment was especially difficult when no other treatable cause of the pulmonary hypertension could be found, as in the "IPAH" patients. With the introduction of an intravenous medication called epoprostenol, or Flolan(R), physicians were finally able to offer IPAH patients a meaningful improvement in both quality and quantity of life. We have also improved our ability to more quickly identify and treat definable causes of PH.
Today, medicine is witnessing an explosive growth in our understanding of pulmonary hypertension at the molecular level, as well as an increase in the number and type of medical therapies available. The main categories of drugs can, over time, help to reverse the abnormalities in the pulmonary vessels and to decrease the pulmonary pressures. There are also exciting new surgical therapies for certain types of pulmonary hypertension, usually related to large blood clots or pulmonary emboli.
Overall, medicine has made large strides in identifying and treating pulmonary hypertension in the last ten years. If you or someone you know has pulmonary hypertension or you just want to read more, go to the
Pulmonary Hypertension Association's website, an information packed web site that also identifies PH support groups near you.