Primary pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension can result from narrowing of the pulmonary arterioles within the lung. The narrowing of the arteries creates resistance and an increased work load for the heart. The heart becomes enlarged from pumping blood against the resistance. Some symptoms include weakness, shortness of breath, and fatigue. The goal of treatment is control of the symptoms, although the disease may develop into heart failure.

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Review Date: 08/17/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.

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