title: Pulmonary hypertension-"state of the art" management in 2012.
abstract: Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is a pathological condition of small pulmonary arteries, characterised by vascular proliferation and remodelling. The pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance progressively rise, leading to right heart failure and death. Pulmonary artery hypertension may be secondary to various conditions, or it may be idiopathic where no underlying cause is identifiable. Earlier, only symptomatic treatment was available for such patients which did not change the natural history of the disease. However, over the years, improvement in understanding the pathogenesis has resulted in the development of targeted approaches to the treatment of PAH. Survival advantage has also been shown with some of the pharmacologic agents. This review article discusses the current management strategy for PAH with special emphasis on an idiopathic variety, in an Indian context.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. anitasaxena@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saxena
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D062186:Arterial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D065627:Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents