[New approaches to the treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension]

A total of 43 patients with primary pulmonary hypertension were examined. The diagnosis was confirmed by invasive techniques and echocardiography. In addition to routine clinical studies, microcirculatory, central and pulmonary hemodynamic ones were used to examine the patients' status and to measure pulmonary pressure. Three groups of the patients were identified: (1) those who received UV-irradiated blood autotransfusion (n = 14); (2) those who underwent hemocarboperfusion with plasmapheresis (n = 15); (3) those who had their own drug therapy (n = 14). The immediate and long-term outcomes of the therapy were analysed. Indications were defined for the usage of extracorporeal techniques in the multimodality treatment of patients with primary pulmonary hypertension.