The Pharmacologic Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension

Rationale for Pharmacologic Treatment

If the PAH has an identifiable cause, then measures can be taken to correct the underlying problem. If the diagnosis is primary PAH, or treating the cause of the secondary PAH does not restore normal pulmonary artery pressure, then pharmacologic intervention is required to reduce the pressure. This is done by using vasodilator drugs to decrease pulmonary vascular resistance and thereby lower the pressure. Adjunctive therapy may include diuretics to reduce blood volume, which will reduce central venous pressure and right ventricular stroke volume, as well as reduce some of the signs and symptoms of edema and shortness of breath associated with PAH. Anticoagulants are administered to prevent the formation of pulmonary thrombi.

Patients with primary hypertension are generally treated with drugs that reduce blood volume (which reduces central venous pressure and cardiac output), reduce systemic vascular resistance, or reduce cardiac output by depressing heart rate and stroke volume. Patients with secondary hypertension are best treated by controlling or removing the underlying disease or pathology, although they may still require antihypertensive drugs.

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Drugs Used to Treat Pulmonary Hypertension

Revised 03/14/07