title: Take a deep breath: understanding pulmonary arterial hypertension.
abstract: Many people throughout the world are living with a severe pulmonary disease, known as pulmonary arterial hypertension. This disease has various etiologies and is often not diagnosed appropriately or early in the disease process, leading to limited, long-term survival. Fortunately in the past 20 years, medications and other options have been developed that provide patients with life-prolonging treatments that also increase their quality of life. Pathophysiology, disease identification and classification, and treatment options, focusing on current pharmacological treatments, are discussed in this article.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, and Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beachem
authors.forename: Kimberley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Litton
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017277:Drug Approval; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D011660:Pulmonary Heart Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011687:Purines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D011464:Epoprostenol; C427248:treprostinil