Pulmonary hypertension related to congenital heart disease: a call for action

Eur Heart J. 2014 Mar;35(11):691-700. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/eht437. Epub 2013 Oct 29.

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension related to congenital heart disease (PAH-CHD) is a common type of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Despite this, little emphasis has been given to this group of patients until recently, when compared with idiopathic PAH. This is largely because of the complexity and the wide range of underlying cardiac anatomy and physiology, with a multitude of adaptive mechanisms not fully understood. Pulmonary arterial hypertension related to congenital heart disease is, therefore, best diagnosed and managed in centres specializing in both CHD and PAH, to avoid common pitfalls and old practices and to provide state-of-the-art care. We discuss the optimal management of PAH-CHD patients in a series of actions to be taken in order to optimize short- and long-term outcome, based on current knowledge of the condition and the advent of targeted advanced therapies.

Keywords: Advanced therapies; Congenital heart disease; Eisenmenger syndrome; Pulmonary hypertension; Pulmonary vascular disease; Targeted therapies; Treat and repair.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomedical Research / organization & administration
  • Cardiology / education
  • Developing Countries
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Education, Medical, Continuing / methods
  • Eisenmenger Complex / complications
  • Eisenmenger Complex / diagnosis
  • Eisenmenger Complex / therapy
  • Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Genotype
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / complications*
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / diagnosis
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / diagnosis
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / therapy
  • International Cooperation
  • Interprofessional Relations
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Prognosis
  • Quality of Life