Definition and classification of pulmonary hypertension

Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2013:218:3-29. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-38664-0_1.

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension is defined as an increase of mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥25 mmHg at rest as assessed by right heart catheterization. According to different combinations of values of pulmonary wedge pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance and cardiac output, a hemodynamic classification of pulmonary hypertension has been proposed. Of major importance is the pulmonary wedge pressure which allows to distinguish pre-capillary (pulmonary wedge pressure ≤15 mmHg) and post-capillary (pulmonary wedge pressure >15 mmHg) pulmonary hypertension. Pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension includes the clinical groups 1 (pulmonary arterial hypertension), 3 (pulmonary hypertension due to lung diseases and/or hypoxia), 4 (chronic thrombo-embolic pulmonary hypertension) and 5 (pulmonary hypertension with unclear and/or multifactorial mechanisms). Post-capillary pulmonary hypertension corresponds to the clinical group 2 (pulmonary hypertension due to left heart diseases).

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / classification*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / physiopathology