How to manage secondary pulmonary hypertension

PREVIEW

Pulmonary hypertension is often difficult to diagnose, because it presents with nonspecific cardiorespiratory findings that reflect abnormal pulmonary vasculature and not the underlying cause. Knowledge of normal pulmonary vascular physiology is imperative in determining possible sources of the hypertension. The authors describe the three major categories of secondary pulmonary hypertension and management of two specific forms. Part 2 of this article, which describes primary pulmonary hypertension, will appear in the March issue.