Pulmonary hypertension is a lung disorder in which the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery rises far above normal levels. The exact cause of pulmonary hypertension is unknown, though research has linked primary pulmonary hypertension to genetic or familial predisposition. Researchers believe the blood vessels are particularly sensitive to certain internal or external factors, and constrict, or narrow, when exposed to them.
Secondary pulmonary hypertension occurs as a result of the effects of other conditions, which may include heart or lung disease, a blood clot in the lungs, or a condition called scleroderma.
The most common symptoms of pulmonary hypertension include:
Because pulmonary hypertension may be determined by familial history, as opposed to a related disorder or unknown cause, UT Southwestern Medical Center provides genetic testing and counseling to help determine the source of the condition. A team of lung specialists will collaborate with cardiologists to find the cause of your condition.
UT Southwestern’s pulmonologists are experts at prescribing the right therapy to treat pulmonary hypertension. Our lung specialists have extensive experience using endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and prostacyclins to treat pulmonary hypertension. You may also be eligible to participate in a variety of clinical trials aimed at treating pulmonary hypertension.
Since pulmonary hypertension may be attributable to congenital heart disease, emphysema, systemic lupus, as well as other factors, a UT Southwestern pulmonologist will work with you to determine the right course of action for each particular condition.
If surgery is needed, our surgeons are widely recognized as leaders in lung transplantation to treat pulmonary hypertension.
UT Southwestern brings together the multidisciplinary expertise of board-certified pulmonologists, cardiologists, rheumatologists, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons, and solid-organ transplant physicians to provide patients with a personalized plan to treat pulmonary hypertension.
An emphasis on team-based medicine ensures that patients have access to the expertise needed to accurately diagnose and treat pulmonary hypertension.