Pulmonary Hypertension

Overview

The Mayo Clinic medical staff has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating people affected by pulmonary hypertension. Mayo Clinic is a leader among medical centers in the world in accurately diagnosing and successfully treating pulmonary hypertension. Mayo Clinic is also a world leader in research on new treatment approaches.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is ranked among the Best Hospitals in Heart and Heart Surgery by U.S. News & World Report.

Diagnosis

At Mayo Clinic, physicians use advanced tools to diagnose pulmonary hypertension, which can be difficult to accurately diagnose. A thorough medical history and physical examination, conducted by an expert in pulmonary hypertension, is a crucial step toward proper diagnosis. Separating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) from pulmonary venous hypertension is essential for proper diagnosis.

Diagnostic tests conducted at Mayo Clinic may also include heart catheterization, pulmonary angiography, echocardiography, pulmonary function tests, overnight oximetry, perfusion lung scan, CT angiogram, high-resolution lung CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the heart and blood vessels. Pulmonary hypertension has many causes and can result from another, underlying condition. Read more about pulmonary hypertension diagnosis.

Treatment

Mayo Clinic physicians accurately diagnose pulmonary hypertension and determine the most appropriate treatment for each patient. Because pulmonary hypertension is relatively rare, an accurate diagnosis is essential in determining the most effective treatment.

At Mayo Clinic, an integrated team of physicians who specialize in many different areas of medicine, collaborate to treat each patient's pulmonary hypertension and any accompanying medical conditions. Mayo physicians are experienced in treating all forms of pulmonary hypertension, including chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, a type of pulmonary hypertension that is often missed or misdiagnosed. At Mayo Clinic, numerous treatment options for pulmonary hypertension are available, depending on the type of pulmonary hypertension.

Classifying pulmonary hypertension properly is critical to understanding and treatment. Mayo Clinic specialists were involved in drafting the current and most recent guidelines for classification and treatment of pulmonary hypertension.

Mayo Clinic successfully treats many forms of pulmonary hypertension with surgery and medications. Follow-up care is also important. Physicians also provide long-term care and support to help patients manage their condition. Read more about pulmonary hypertension treatment.

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About Pulmonary Hypertension

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a common condition that occurs when blood travels through the body's arteries at a pressure that is too high to maintain good health. Pulmonary hypertension is an uncommon type of high blood pressure, affecting mainly the arteries in the lungs. Pulmonary hypertension is serious and can become progressively worse, perhaps even fatal.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension begins when tiny arteries in the lungs constrict, become narrow or are blocked. The result is increased resistance to blood flow in the lungs, which, in turn, raises pressure within the pulmonary arteries. As the pressure builds, the heart's right ventricle must work harder to pump blood through the lungs, eventually causing the heart muscle to weaken and sometimes fail completely. Problems with adequacy of oxygen exchange can also occur, and patients may have to be treated with oxygen.

Read more about pulmonary hypertension at MayoClinic.com.