Pulmonary Hypertension: The Other High Blood Pressure

PHOENIX (November 9, 2004) – Pulmonary hypertension (PH) simply defined is high blood pressure in the lungs. But the simplicity ends there. PH is a complex and elusive health problem that affects people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. While it shares the same terminology, it differs markedly from high blood pressure or regular hypertension.

"Ideopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension is a very serious disease with no known cure," said David Baratz, M.D., a pulmonologist at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center. "It's difficult to diagnose and treat but the earlier it's caught, the better the outcome. New treatments are showing positive results. That's why awareness is so important."

Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension include shortness of breath with minimal exertion, fatigue, chest pain, coughing, swollen ankles and legs, dizzy spells and fainting.

While PH can affect all people, women are more than twice as likely to develop PH, and they are usually stricken in their childbearing years.

Pulmonary hypertension is frequently misdiagnosed and often found at an advanced stage by the time it is accurately diagnosed. There are two basic types of pulmonary hypertension:

• Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, occurs in the absence of a known cause. PPH is extremely rare, occurring in about two persons per million per year.
• Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension, secondary to other causes including respiratory disorders (emphysema and bronchitis), Collagen Vascular Disease (scleroderma, lupus, CREST syndrome), congenital heart defects, chronic pulmonary thromboembolism (old blood clots in the pulmonary artery) chronic liver disease, HIV infection or use of diet drugs such as fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine.

PH begins when the blood vessels that supply blood to the lungs constrict or tighten, leading to increased pressure in the pulmonary artery (the blood vessel that leads from the heart to the lungs). The heart pumps harder to keep the blood flowing. Over time the blood vessels begin to scar, stiffen, and thicken. In some cases, they may become completely blocked. The heart compensates by pumping even harder, which can cause the heart to enlarge and lose flexibility.

"Historically, pulmonary hypertension is a chronic and incurable condition with a poor survival rate. However, new treatments are available which have significantly improved prognosis," Baratz said.

Recent data indicate that PH patients are living longer, with some patients able to manage the disorder for 15 to 20 years or longer.

New therapies that have come out this year include data on the use of Sildenafil (brand name Viagra), which improves the chronic patient's quality of life. Preliminary data shows this therapy may extend a patient's life expectancy from two years to as much as 10 years, Baratz said.

For more information, please contact Banner Good Samaritan Public Relations at (602) 239-4411.