Open AccessPrimary pulmonary hypertension in adults
Author(s) -
Hawkins J. W.,
Dunn M. I.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960130603
Subject(s) - medicine , pulmonary hypertension , natural history , histopathology , disease , chest pain , lung , lung transplantation , respiratory disease , cardiology , pediatrics , pathology
Primary pulmonary hypertension is an enigmatic disease found predominantly in young women, but it also affects a significant number of middle‐aged and elderly males and females. Its onset, characterized by progressively worsening dyspnea, fatigue, and chest pain, is insidious. Three distinct histopathologic subtypes have been identified, and the natural history of the disease process has been well‐defined. Pharmacologic treatment options have, in general, been disappointing, and it appears that heart‐lung transplantation will be applied only to a small minority of young patients with primary pulmonary hypertension in the near future. We review the histopathology, evaluation, treatment, and prognosis of primary pulmonary hypertension.