Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is classified into five distinct groups according to the fifth world conference in Nice 2013. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) comprises idiopathic PAH, hereditary PAH, drug-induced and associated PAH. Right heart catheterization is essential for the diagnosis of PH and should precede initiation of a targeted PAH therapy. Besides general measures and supportive therapy, four different classes of targeted drugs have been approved for the treatment of PAH. Combination therapy, either sequential or initial (up-front), is increasingly gaining recognition. Risk stratification and treatment goals have been defined to guide therapeutic decisions. However, cure is still far from reach and lung transplantation is an important treatment option for patients with end-stage disease under optimal supportive and targeted drug therapy.
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