title: Update in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
abstract: Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rare and progressive disease that mainly affects the pulmonary arterioles (precapillary), regardless of the triggering aetiology. The prevalence of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension in Spain is estimated at 19.2 and 16 cases per million inhabitants, respectively. The diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension is based on haemodynamic criteria (mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥25mmHg, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ≤15mmHg and pulmonary vascular resistance >3 Wood units) and therefore requires the implementation of right cardiac catheterisation. Sequential therapy with a single drug has been used in clinical practice. However, recent European guidelines recommend combined initial therapy in some situations. This review conducts a critical update of our knowledge of this disease according to the latest guidelines and recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Grupo Hipertensión Pulmonar La Paz (GRUHPAZ), Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España. Electronic address: carlos_mejiachew@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Mejía Chew
authors.affiliation: Grupo Hipertensión Pulmonar La Paz (GRUHPAZ), Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alcolea Batres
authors.affiliation: Grupo Hipertensión Pulmonar La Paz (GRUHPAZ), Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ríos Blanco
keywords: Antagonista del receptor de endotelina; Análagos de prostaciclina; Endothelin receptor antagonist; Hipertensión arterial pulmonar; Hipertensión pulmonar; Inhibidores de la fosfodiesterasa tipo 5; Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors; Prostacyclin analogues; Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Pulmonary hypertension; Review; Revisión