Diagnosis and assessment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
The diagnosis and assessment of pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rapidly evolving area, with changes occurring in the definition of the disease, screening and diagnostic techniques, and staging and follow-up assessment. The definition of pulmonary hypertension has been simplified, and is now based on currently available evidence. There has been substantial progress in advancing the imaging techniques and biomarkers used to screen patients for the disease and to follow up their response to therapy. The importance of accurate assessment of right ventricular function in following up the clinical course and response to therapy is more fully appreciated. As new therapies are developed for pulmonary arterial hypertension, screening, prompt diagnosis, and accurate assessment of disease severity become increasingly important. A clear definition of pulmonary hypertension and the development of a rational approach to diagnostic assessment and follow-up using both conventional and new tools will be essential to deriving maximal benefit from our expanding therapeutic armamentarium.
Badesch
David B
DB
Divisions of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine and Cardiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado. Electronic address: David.Badesch@uchdenver.edu.
Champion
Hunter C
HC
Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
Gomez Sanchez
Miguel Angel
MA
Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension Unit, Hospital Universitario Doce de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
Hoeper
Marius M
MM
Department of Respiratory Medicine, University of Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Loyd
James E
JE
Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee.
Manes
Alessandra
A
Institute of Cardiology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
McGoon
Michael
M
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota.
Naeije
Robert
R
Departments of Pathophysiology and Cardiology, Erasme Academic Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
Olschewski
Horst
H
Pulmonology Division, University Clinic of Internal Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.
Oudiz
Ronald J
RJ
Liu Center for Pulmonary Hypertension, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California.
Torbicki
Adam
A
Department of Chest Medicine, Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000502:physiology
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D011464:Epoprostenol