title: Pulmonary hypertension: a review of the aetiology, pathophysiology and management.
abstract: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined as a systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) above 30 mmHg and a mean PAP above 25 mmHg. Pulmonary hypertensive diseases (PHDs) encompass a myriad of conditions that cause pulmonary hypertension (PH), hence the Evian Classification was developed for the categorization of the various causes. Pulmonary hypertensive diseases are complex conditions that are difficult to treat and in the case of primary pulmonary hypertension, there is no known cure. Dyspnoea on exertion is the main symptom. This usually worsens as the disease progresses and can lead to syncope as a result of right ventricular failure. Prostacyclin has been the mainstay of treatment for decades, but several new drugs and alternate methods of treatment are currently available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Radiology, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica, West Indies. mdscarl@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scarlett
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McGaw
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aquart-Stewart
mesh_terms: D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy