Interv Akut Kardiol 2019; 18(3, Suppl.A): 26-29 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2019.048

The significance of risk stratification in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pavel Jansa

II. interní klinika kardiologie a angiologie, Centrum pro plicní hypertenzi Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice a 1. LF UK, Praha

Pulmonary hypertension is a syndrome characterized by increased pressure in the pulmonary artery. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease of small pulmonary vessels leading to precapillary pulmonary hypertension, to progression when left untreated, and eventually to right heart failure. To assess the prognosis and risk profile of patients with PAH, a number of parameters are used which correspond with the symptoms, exercise capacity, and right ventricular function not only initially at the time of diagnosis, but also during follow-up. In testing novel drugs for the treatment of PAH, major emphasis is currently placed on affecting patient prognosis. Therefore, even in this rare disease, there are efforts to design long-term studies with relatively high numbers of patients the goal of which is not only to show an effect on exercise capacity, haemodynamics, and functional class, but particularly on morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: pulmonary arterial hypertension, patient prognosis, disease progression

Published: November 1, 2019  Show citation