|
|
 |
|
 |
Hypertrophy |
|
|
|
Hypertrophy of the medial layer of the pulmonary arteries occurs as a result of proliferation of pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells. This increased muscularization can cause vascular obliteration and increased vascular resistance.1,2 Endothelin (ET) is known to have mitogenic effects on smooth muscle cells and may contribute to this process.1 Evidence of excess ET has been observed in pulmonary arteries with medial hypertrophy.3 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
| |
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension |
|
|
| |
|
Clinical Definition4 |
|
|
• |
Mean pulmonary arterial pressure >25 mm Hg |
|
|
• |
Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
≤15 mm Hg |
|
|
• |
Pulmonary vascular resistance >3 Wood units |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
REFERENCES |
|
1. |
Miyauchi T, Masaki T. Pathophysiology of endothelin in the cardiovascular system. Annu Rev Physiol. 1999;61:391–415. |
|
2. |
Morrell, N. Pulmonary vascular disease. In: Dilworth JP, Baldwin DR. Respiratory Medicine. Amsterdam: Overseas Publishers Association, Harwood Academic; 2001:199–234. |
|
3. |
Giaid A, Yanagisawa M, Langleben D, et al. Expression of endothelin-1 in the lungs of patients with pulmonary hypertension. N Engl J Med. 1993;328:1732–1739. |
|
4. |
McLaughlin VV, Archer SL, Badesch DB, et al. ACCF/AHA 2009 expert consensus document on pulmonary hypertension. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2009;53:1573–1619. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
