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Pulmonary Vasoconstriction |
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In pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), the pulmonary arteries constrict, resulting in increased resistance to pulmonary blood flow and increased pulmonary blood pressure. Increased expression of endothelin (ET) has been observed in the pulmonary arteries of primary pulmonary hypertension patients, suggesting that excess ET may influence pulmonary vasoconstriction in some cases of PAH.1,2 |
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Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension |
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Clinical Definition3 |
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Mean pulmonary arterial pressure >25 mm Hg |
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Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
≤15 mm Hg |
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Pulmonary vascular resistance >3 Wood units |
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REFERENCES |
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1. |
Rich S, McLaughlin VV. Pulmonary hypertension. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DE. Braunwald's Heart Disease. 2 vols. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:1883–1914. |
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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. |
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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. |
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