Treatments of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)

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Experts estimate that for every person accurately diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension, there are five more that are unaware that they have the condition. This causes many cases of the condition to remain undiscovered until the individual is in the latter stages of the disease. Pulmonary arterial hypertension treatments are much more effective when the condition is diagnosed early. Because of the difficulty of treating patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, doctors need to carefully tailor each treatment program to the needs of the individual. Treating this condition requires numerous follow-ups to determine the best course of treatment, and treatments may be adjusted if they become ineffective.

There is currently no cure available for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Pulmonary arterial hypertension treatments are mainly used to control the symptoms of the condition and reduce the risk of developing serious complications. Many of the treatments are geared towards reducing the patient’s risk of developing fatal heart valve damage. Pulmonary arterial hypertension treatments include both medications and surgical options. The best course of treatment for an individual is determined by health, age, and class of pulmonary arterial hypertension when diagnosed.

A common type of pulmonary arterial hypertension treatments are blood vessel dilators. These medications react as hormones in the body, causing the blood vessels to enlarge and preventing the blood from clotting. The first blood vessel dilator approved by the FDA for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension was Flolan. This medication is only effective if given in a continuous drip intravenously and requires the individual to learn how to prepare the medication, work the IV pump and care for the catheter used to deliver the medication. A newer form of this pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment was recently made available which can be inhaled instead of injected. This drug, named Iloprost, is much more convenient than Flolan and is far less painful to take. The medication is expensive and must be taken every three hours.

A type of pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment called an endothelin receptor antagonist reverses the effects of endothelin on the walls of the blood vessels. Endothelin is the substance that causes the walls of the blood vessels to tighten and narrow. The most common endothelin receptor antagonist used in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension is Tracleer. Tracleer improves the strength of the individual and relieves the symptoms associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

One of the least used treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension is calcium channel blockers. There are many versions of calcium channel blockers that may be used in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. These medications can be very effective, but can only be used in a small percentage of individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Calcium channel blockers relax the walls of the blood vessels, effectively lowering high blood pressure. In most cases, the dosage is high, increasing the risk of serious side effects.

Other pulmonary arterial hypertension treatments include anticoagulants, diuretics, oxygen therapy, and surgery to replace a damaged lung. All treatments are not right for everyone. For instance, surgical lung replacement will only be performed on younger, relatively healthy individuals that would be able to withstand the strain of organ replacement. A course of treatment will be compiled by the physician, taking into consideration the specific needs of the patient. With the number of pulmonary arterial hypertension treatments currently available, a case of pulmonary arterial hypertension can be effectively managed for years.

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Resources

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - Pulmonary arterial hypertension ( PAH ) occurs when the blood pressure of the pulmonary artery increases to dangerous levels. Also known as primary pulmonary hypertension ( PPH ) in the older medical journals, pulmonary arterial hypertension is considered a rare disorder that is difficult to treat and that few patients survive …

Symptoms of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - When reviewing the medical history of patients diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension, physicians find that the symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension manifest gradually. In some cases, symptoms may take up to ten years to appear ...

Diagnosis of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - A diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension is only arrived at after a series of tests are performed to ensure that pulmonary arterial hypertension, and not some other disorder, is responsible for the symptoms observed. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is rarely detected while it is still in the early stages ...

Causes of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - There are many causes of pulmonary arterial hypertension, and not all of them are known. Because incidences of pulmonary arterial hypertension, also known as primary pulmonary hypertension ( PPH ), are so low, it is difficult to learn about the disease through clinical means ...

Treatments for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - Pulmonary arterial hypertension treatments are much more effective when the condition is diagnosed early. Because of the difficulty of treating patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, doctors need to carefully tailor each treatment program to the needs of the individual. Treating this condition requires numerous follow-ups to determine the best course of treatment, and treatments may be adjusted if they become ineffective ...

Complications of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - Also known as primary pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary arterial hypertension can develop many complications, some life-threatening. One dangerous complication that may be experienced by individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension is cor pulmonale, which is a condition in which the right ventricle of the heart enlarges and, in time, fails ...

Other Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Resources

Checkup: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

National Institutes of Health: What Is Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension?

Pulmonary Hypertension Association: Website for the Organization

PH Central: Website for patients, caregivers and professionals

Do I have a Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Lawsuit?

The Defective Drug Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus exclusively on the representation of plaintiffs in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) and Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (IPAH) lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension cases in all 50 states.

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