Topic of the Month: Pulmonary Hypertension

The ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension were presented last August at ESC Congress 2022.

Pulmonary hypertension is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality. It may be primary, or may be secondary to left-sided muscle and valve diseases or to venous thrombo-embolic events. The complexity of this disease often requires collaboration between primary cardiologists and pulmonologists, interventional and acute-care professionals, and cardio-thoracic surgeons.

It may be difficult to diagnose, and a combination of cardiac and cardio-pulmonary exercise testing, echocardiography, CT scanning, lung scintigraphy and often invasive hemodynamics is required.

Although treatment is challenging, there are several pharmacological and interventional options that may be explored.

These updated and revised guidelines address these issues. The content below aims to help you gain a better understanding and expand your knowledge of pulmonary hypertension.