Pharmacotherapy of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is considered to be a reflection of right heart failure that manifests as a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance. The etiology of PAH is multifactorial, but the identification of the etiology is essential to treat the underlying cause. Management of PAH involves a multidimensional approach, including specific therapy, supportive therapy, and background therapy. This chapter specifically focuses on the specific therapeutic modalities for PAH, which include drugs affecting the endothelin, nitric oxide, and prostacyclin pathways. A clinical algorithm is also included at the end of the chapter to guide decisions on which drug is to be preferred in each subset of PAH patients.