Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Sporadic primary pulmonary hypertension; Familial primary pulmonary hypertension; Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension; Primary pulmonary hypertension; PPH; Secondary pulmonary hypertension
Symptoms
-
Chest pain , usually in the front of the chest -
Dizziness -
Fainting -
Fatigue - Leg swelling
- Light-headedness during exercise
-
Shortness of breath during activity -
Weakness
Signs and tests
A physical examination may show:
- Abnormal heart sounds (especially a splitting of the second heart sound)
- Enlargement of the veins in the neck
- Feeling of a pulse over the breastbone
-
Heart murmur - Leg swelling
- Liver and spleen swelling
- Normal breathing sounds
In early stages of the disease, the exam may be normal or almost normal. The condition may take several months to diagnose. Asthma causes similar symptoms and must be ruled out.
Tests may include:
-
Cardiac catheterization -
Chest x-ray -
CT scan of the chest -
Echocardiogram -
ECG - Nuclear
lung scan -
Pulmonary arteriogram - Pulmonary function tests
Previous Section
