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Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Benjamin S Frank1, D Dunbar Ivy1
1Department of Pediatrics, Section of Cardiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
Pediatric Clinics of North America
|September 5, 2020
Summary
Pediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH) causes significant illness and death. While new therapies improve outcomes, a cure for most children with PH remains elusive.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious condition in children, marked by high pulmonary artery pressure.
- It leads to considerable morbidity and mortality, with diverse underlying causes.
- Current treatments aim to reduce pressure and improve patient outcomes, but a definitive cure is often unavailable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review select causes of pediatric PH.
- To provide an update on the latest evaluation and management strategies for children with PH.
- To discuss the evidence for PH-targeted therapies in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent data on pediatric PH.
- Synthesis of information on causes, evaluation, and management.
- Analysis of evidence for available PH-targeted therapies.
Main Results:
- Identified various causes of PH in pediatric populations.
- Summarized current approaches to diagnosing and managing pediatric PH.
- Reviewed the efficacy and evidence base for PH-targeted therapies in children.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric PH requires comprehensive management strategies.
- PH-targeted therapies offer benefits but do not represent a cure for most cases.
- Ongoing research is crucial for improving long-term outcomes in children with PH.
Keywords:
Acute vasoreactivity testingAtrial septal defectCongenital heart diseaseOperabilityPediatric pulmonary hypertensionPulmonary vasodilatorsMore Related Videos
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