PAH meaning in Medical ?

Answer: What is Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension mean?

Pulmonary hypertension (PH or PHTN) is a condition of increased blood pressure within the arteries of the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fainting, tiredness, chest pain, swelling of the legs, and a fast heartbeat. The condition may make it difficult to exercise. Onset is typically gradual. If not mediated through treatment or medication therapy, pulmonary hypertension may lead to heart failure and mortality.

A patient is deemed to have pulmonary hypertension if the pulmonary mean arterial pressure is greater than 25mmHg at rest, or greater than 30mmHg during exercise. To provide context, normal pressure in an artery for the average, normal individual is around 15 mmHg at rest.

The cause is often unknown. However, the narrowing of the pulmonary arteries frequently occurs by three ways. Firstly, the arteries may narrow due to the increased contraction of the muscles of the walls of arteries. Increased contraction of the muscles of the walls of the arteries may cause the arteries to become too narrow for the blood that is flowing through it. Secondly, the arteries may also narrow due to increased cell growth in the lining of the arteries which decreases the space. The arteries may also narrow due to tiny blood clots which form within smaller arteries, causing blockages.

Risk factors include a family history, prior blood clots in the lungs, HIV/AIDS, sickle cell disease, cocaine use, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea, living at high altitudes, and problems with the mitral valve. The underlying mechanism typically involves inflammation and subsequent remodeling of the arteries in the lungs. Diagnosis involves first ruling out other potential causes.

There is currently no cure for pulmonary hypertension, although research on a cure is ongoing. Treatment depends on the type of disease. A number of supportive measures such as oxygen therapy, diuretics, and medications to inhibit blood clotting may be used. Medications specifically used to treat pulmonary hypertension include epoprostenol, treprostinil, iloprost, bosentan, ambrisentan, macitentan, and sildenafil. Lung transplantation may be an option in severe cases.

The frequency of occurrence is estimated at about 1,000 new cases per year in the United States. Females are more often affected than males. Onset is typically between 20 and 60 years of age. Pulmonary hypertension was identified by Ernst von Romberg in 1891.

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