Diagnostic evaluation in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rare pathological condition of the pulmonary circulation, and is defined as the increase in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPm) ≥ 25 mm Hg with a trough of ≤ 15 mm Hg and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of > 3 Wood Units, determined at rest and using right-heart catheterisation. Pulmonary arterial hypertension belongs to Group 1 of the pulmonary hypertension classification, a group consisting of conditions considered as “rare”, and its diagnosis requires ruling out the presence of other causes of pulmonary hypertension. The complexity of the disease and the use of highly specialised procedures for its diagnosis makes it necessary and desirable to refer to experienced or reference centres in the management of the disease. However, there are diagnostic approaches that could be brought forward in Primary Health Care centres and thus, speed up the diagnostic process.