primary pulmonary hypertension
Published April 17, 2024 | 
(1996)
Pulmonary hypertension refers to an increase in blood pressure in the arteries which serve the lungs. The term “primary” means that no underlying cause for the increased blood pressure, such as obstruction due to clots, congenital heart defects or chronic exposure to low oxygen, has been identified.
Primary pulmonary hypertension is a rare but serious condition. It occurs in young adults and is more than twice as common in women than men. Its relentless course has resulted in early death (70 to 80 percent in five years) in untreated cases. Treatment options may include drugs to dilate blood vessels in the lungs, blood thinners (anticoagulants), oxygen and even lung or heart and lung transplantation.