Via practica 6/2008

NOVEL THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES IN PULMONARY HYPERTENSION

Pulmonary hypertension means chronic disorder of pulmonary arteries, characteristic by pulmonary artery pressure elevation, progressive course, very poor life quality and prognosis. Major advances in understanding of the disease pathogenesis as well as in the diagnostic process opened new horizons of therapeutic modalities in the last 10 years and so called disease-specific therapy (prostanoids, endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase inhibitors) was established. This pharmacologic treatment is acting through pathogenic pathways and therefore it changes the therapeutic strategy, effectively improves clinical course and prolongs life.

Keywords: pulmonary hypertension, specific therapy.