Ency. home > Disease > P > Primary pulmonary hypertension

Primary pulmonary hypertension    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment

Alternative names:

Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Sporadic primary pulmonary hypertension; Familial primary pulmonary hypertension

Definition:

A disorder in which the blood pressure in the arteries of the lung is abnormally high, in the absence of other diseases of the heart or lungs.

Causes and Risks

The cause of primary pulmonary hypertension is unknown. Some cases are caused by a genetic defect. The small arteries of the lung narrow throughout the lungs. Pulmonary hypertension develops as a response to increased resistance to blood flow. As a result of the increased workload caused by this resistance, the right side of the heart becomes enlarged. Eventually, progressive heart failure may develop.

This disease more commonly affects women than men. It is rare, affecting 1 to 2 out of 1,000,000 people.

Ency. home > Disease > P > Primary pulmonary hypertension

[an error occurred while processing this directive]