Pulmonary Hypertension Information

If you are facing a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, you want the best possible care. You seek out the most experienced and educated cardiovascular experts available.

Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital is here for you.

Why Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital

U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks The Mount Sinai Hospital as a top hospital for cardiovascular care. We offer:

State-of-the-art comprehensive medical and surgical care
Expert team of cardiothoracic surgeons, physicians, and nurse practitioners
Comprehensive referrals to a variety of disciplines including heart, lung, infectious disease, rheumatology, liver, kidneys, and cardiovascular genetics
Support staff of nurses, social workers, and nutritionists
A wide range of proven treatment option including oral, intravenous/subcutaneous, and surgical therapies
Pioneering therapies with the most current research initiatives

We strive to improve your longevity and quality of life, with a personal touch.

What is Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH), or high blood pressure of the arteries of the lungs, can develop from several conditions. If left untreated, this cardiopulmonary condition can result in right heart failure and even death.

Causes of pulmonary hypertension include:

Autoimmune diseases that damage the lungs, such as scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis
Birth defects of the heart
Blood clots in the lung (pulmonary embolism)
Certain medications (for example, certain diet drugs)
Chronically low oxygen levels in the blood
Heart failure
Heart valve disease
HIV infection
Lung disease, such as COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, or any other severe chronic lung condition
Obstructive sleep apnea

We separate pulmonary hypertension into five categories:

Group 1: pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is associated with the narrowing of small blood vessels in the lungs
Group 2: pulmonary hypertension caused by long-term left-sided heart disease
Group 3: pulmonary hypertension caused by lung disease or lack of oxygen
Group 4: chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
Group 5: pulmonary hypertension caused by multifactorial conditions

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (Group 1)

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare type of high blood pressure. It is not caused by heart disease, lung disease, or blood clots. Rather, it affects your lungs and the right side of your heart.

PAH occurs when the arteries in your lungs become narrowed or blocked. This restricts blood flow and increases pressure in your pulmonary arteries. Over time, the right side of the heart weakens because it has been forced to work harder to pump blood through the pulmonary arteries. If PAH is left untreated, the right side of the heart will fail.

There are three major types of PAH:

Idiopathic PAH is when we do not know the cause of the PAH.
Heritable PAH is when your condition runs in your family.
Associated PAH is the term for PAH that occurs along with another disease, such as congenital heart disease, connective tissue diseases, HIV, or chronic liver disease.

PH Caused by Left-sided Heart Disease (Group 2)

This form of pulmonary hypertension (PH) happens in patients who have conditions that affect the left side of the heart. These conditions include myocardial infarction, left heart failure, and disease of the valves. All of these conditions can cause increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries. Unlike PAH, there is no specific therapy for this form of PH. The goal of the treatment is to improve the way the left side of the heart functions. We often use medication or surgery.

PH Associated to Lung Disease or Low Oxygen (Group 3)

Certain conditions that affect your oxygen level can lead to this type of PH. These conditions include COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), emphysema, and obstructive sleep apnea. We treat these conditions by trying to increase oxygen in the lungs, helping you to breathe normally during sleep, and improving your lung function. We may use oral or inhaled therapies.

Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (Group 4)

If you have high blood pressure in your lungs caused by chronic blood clots, you may have chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). You may benefit from surgery to remove the clots in your lungs. Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital’s pulmonary hypertension program has special expertise with this procedure.

PH Caused by Multifactorial Conditions (Group 5)

Scientists do not understand or have effective treatments for some diseases associated with PH. We categorize these conditions in Group 5. You might have Group 5 PH if you have blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia, thyroid disease, chronic renal failure or sarcoidosis.