Clinical features and diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension of unclear etiology in adults - UpToDate

Patients suspected of having pulmonary hypertension (PH) undergo extensive diagnostic testing. The purpose of diagnostic testing is to confirm that PH exists and identify the underlying cause so that appropriate treatment can be administered. The clinical features, diagnostic evaluation, and diagnostic criteria for PH are reviewed here. Epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment, and prognosis are discussed separately. (See "The epidemiology and pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (group 1)" and "Treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (group 1) in adults: Pulmonary hypertension-specific therapy" and "Treatment and prognosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension in adults (group 1)".) The approach described in this topic is for the most part consistent with guidelines issued by several organizations [1,2]. ETIOLOGIES AND TERMINOLOGY When evaluating patients with suspected PH, good working knowledge of the etiologies and classification is important. Patients with PH are classif

Patients suspected of having pulmonary hypertension (PH) undergo extensive diagnostic testing. The purpose of diagnostic testing is to confirm that PH exists and identify the underlying cause so that appropriate treatment can be administered. The clinical features, diagnostic evaluation, and diagnostic criteria for PH are reviewed here. Epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment, and prognosis are discussed separately. (See "The epidemiology and pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (group 1)" and "Treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (group 1) in adults: Pulmonary hypertension-sp