Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
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Introduction
Primary pulmonary hypertension is a disease with unknown causes, in which blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs are abnormally high, often leading on to right heart chamber weakness and increase in size.
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Symptoms
Increasing breathlessness, leg and abdominal swelling. Disease is often progressive and ultimately fatal.
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Who is likely to develop it
Young to middle age women more likely.
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Diagnosis
This diagnosis is made only AFTER excluding secondary causes of pulmonary hypertension, which include 'holes in the heart', severe lung disease, pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lung arteries coming often from leg veins), and systemic conditions like SLE. There are reports of this condition developing after taking medications, including some slimming pills.
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No fully effective or curative medications exist; prostaglandins and vasodilators (eg sildenafil) have been used and may improve symptoms and prognosis. Heart-lung transplantation may be the last resort.
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Learn more about the National Heart Centre Singapore  |
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