Pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is frequently misdiagnosed and has often progressed to a late stage by the time it is accurately diagnosed. It has therefore long been considered untreatable and incurable with an overall very poor survival rate. However, new treatments are now available which have significantly improved prognosis. Recent data demonstrate survival is continuing to improve, with patients living for fifteen to twenty years or longer after diagnosis with an overall good quality of life. In this work, each chapter will discuss therapeutic options with reference to the pre-clinical studies which provided the rationale for their clinical development. The book also includes evidence-based treatment algorithms based on the 2007 update of the ACCP Guidelines for Medical Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension.