Case of the Month #51 Pulmonary Hypertension

Published 18/07/2024

What is the clinical classification of PH? What are the different groups?

  • 5 clinical subgroups 

  • Categorisation is based on similar pathological mechanisms, clinical presentation, haemodynamic characteristics and therapeutic management. 

There are many causes, but examples include: 

Group  

Examples 

1. PAH 

Idiopathic, heritable, connective tissue disease, drug and toxin-induced, portal hypertension, HIV 

2. PH-LHD 

Left ventricular systolic or diastolic impairment, valvular heart disease 

3. PH-LD 

Obstructive, restrictive, hypoxia without lung disease 

4. PH due to pulmonary artery obstruction 

Chronic thromboembolic PH (CTEPH) 

5. PH with unclear / multifactorial mechanisms 

Sarcoid, haematological, metabolic 

PAH – pulmonary arterial hypertension 

PH-LHD – PH due to left heart disease 

PH-LD – PH due to lung disease