Cardiovascular Consequences of Pulmonary Hypertension (original) (raw)

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is exemplified by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure and can be either idiopathic or arise secondary to a myriad of causes. Normal pulmonary artery pressure is 15 mm Hg to 20 mm Hg systolic and 8 mm Hg to 15 mm Hg diastolic. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure greater than 25 mm Hg, with a pulmonary capillary or left atrial pressure of less than 15 mm Hg . Developed in 1998 and updated in 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) established a classification system for pulmonary hypertension [2] that includes five categories (Box 1). Use of the classification system is supported by both the WHO and NHLBI to promote a consistent nomenclature and classification system.