Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH), an abnormal elevation in pulmonary artery pressure, may be the result of left heart failure, pulmonary parenchymal or vascular disease, thromboembolism, or a combination of these factors. Whether the PH arises from cardiac, pulmonary, or intrinsic vascular disease, it generally is a feature of advanced disease. Because the causes of PH are so diverse, it is essential that the etiology underlying the PH be clearly determined before embarking on treatment.