[Diagnostic and prognostic evaluation in patients with pulmonary hypertension]

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a hemodynamic disorder that occurs in a series of distinct diseases and is defined by the presence of a mean pulmonary artery pressure of ≥ 25 mm Hg. Clinically, this disorder is classified in five groups. Of these, group I, or pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), although infrequent, deserves special attention due to the specific therapeutic implications involved. Based on clinical suspicion and/or the results of echocardiogram, the diagnosis of this entity is established by following a strict protocol that should include right-sided cardiac catheterization. PH is a severe, progressive disease whose prognosis mainly depends on the degree of right ventricular involvement. Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, severity must be evaluated to initiate the most appropriate treatment for the patient's status. To do this, several clinical, biological, and echocardiographic-hemodynamic parameters and indicators of exercise capacity can be used.