Pulmonary Hypertension Program

Overview of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program

Pulmonary hypertension is a serious condition that affects the blood flow within your heart and lung system. When blood pressure increases in the blood vessels of the lungs, this can cause the right side of your heart to work harder than usual to pump blood through the lungs to get oxygen into it. While pulmonary hypertension can develop slowly without signs or symptoms, severe cases often happen both at rest and during physical activity.

An accurate diagnosis is necessary to classify the severity and type of pulmonary hypertension and determine the most effective treatment plan. By focusing on a holistic, collaborative approach, as well as individualizing care for each patient, we pair you with the best doctor for pulmonary hypertension, depending on your type of pulmonary hypertension.

As the first pulmonary hypertension program in western Pennsylvania accredited by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association as a Center for Comprehensive Care,* our Pulmonary Hypertension Program experts know which steps to take to properly diagnose and treat various associated and related conditions. We recognize the importance of medication, exercise, diet, and other therapies to manage pulmonary hypertension and right-sided congestive heart failure.

In addition to the Heart Failure and Transplant Division, the AHN Pulmonary Hypertension Program provides you with a multidisciplinary team of advanced practice providers, clinical pharmacists, dietitians, and our best pulmonary hypertension doctors.

For more information on the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Center for Comprehensive Care accreditation, visit phassociation.org/phcarecenters/accredited-centers.

How we treat pulmonary hypertension

There is no cure for pulmonary hypertension, but there are opportunities to decrease symptoms while also slowing its progression using medication or lifestyle changes.

Conditions we treat

Pulmonary hypertension is classified into five groups. Each group has a different root cause and requires a different treatment approach.

Group 1: Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a chronic disease that causes thickening and constriction of your lungs’ blood vessels, preventing blood from circulating properly through your lungs and putting stress on the right side of your heart.
Group 2: Pulmonary venous hypertension happens when there is back pressure of fluid into your lungs. This is caused by left-sided congestive heart failure, either due to a weak left-sided heart muscle, left-sided valvular heart disease, or stiffness of the left side of your heart.
Group 3: Pulmonary hypertension caused by chronic lung disease or hypoxia (low oxygen levels in body tissues), sleep apnea, COPD/emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, or living in a high-altitude area for too long.
Group 4: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) happens when blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary emboli) clog or narrow the small blood vessels in the lungs, affecting the blood flow.
Group 5: Pulmonary hypertension associated with other conditions, such as anemia, sarcoidosis, and metabolic disorders.

"The care of Pulmonary Hypertension patients, particularly on multi-drug regimens, is highly nuanced. So we strive to tailor the appropriate drugs to the appropriate patients."

Amresh Raina, MD — Director, Advanced Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension Programs

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Specialized care

As one of four centers in western Pennsylvania accredited as a Pulmonary Hypertension Care Center by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association*, we take a multidisciplinary approach to care.

We also have an integrated supportive care team from the AHN Heart Failure Program, which helps with symptom management, and preparation for advanced heart failure that helps empower caregivers.

Pulmonary hypertension treatment

In addition to conducting a complete physical examination, our physicians run a series of tests to accurately diagnose the condition, its cause, and its level of severity. Our team at the pulmonary hypertension clinic offers the most advanced treatments, including specialty drug therapies still in the clinical trial phase.

Depending on your type of pulmonary hypertension, treatment and management may include:

Specialized medicines.
Diet and lifestyle changes.
Surgery.
Oxygen therapy.
Treatments for heart valve disease and structural heart disease.
Routine appointments.

For more information on the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Center for Comprehensive Care accreditation, visit phassociation.org/phcarecenters/accredited-centers.

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Why choose us?

Pulmonary hypertension can be misdiagnosed as bronchitis, left-sided congestive heart failure, asthma, or another lung disorder. An incorrect diagnosis and treatment plan can be life-threatening, increasing your risk of right-sided heart failure. The AHN Pulmonary Hypertension Program brings together a network of highly skilled physicians, dedicated social workers, and state-of-the-art tools to provide fast and effective patient care.

Efficiency

We offer access to the most advanced testing and imaging. Our specialists diagnose and interpret results across various platforms to help patients understand their diagnosis and treatment plan.

Coordination

The pulmonary hypertension clinic allows you to meet with several specialists to help determine the best course of treatment for your condition. Our board-certified physicians in cardiology, pulmonary medicine, rheumatology, cardiothoracic surgery, and palliative care work with pulmonary hypertension specialty nurses, nutritionists, social workers, and geneticists to provide you with comprehensive care. A dedicated nurse navigator will guide you throughout the entire process, from diagnosis to treatment, answering questions you might have and providing personalized support.

Customized treatment plans

We recommend individualized treatment plans tailored to your unique situation for managing pulmonary hypertension. Our team of physicians and specialists creates an appropriate care plan for disease prevention while prioritizing quality of life. Depending on your diagnosis, a physician may suggest new therapies and clinical trials via the Cardiovascular Research Institute.

Home monitoring

To provide the latest in pulmonary hypertension technology, we’ve introduced daily monitoring with an implantable device called the CardioMEMS™. This state-of-the-art instrument remotely monitors heart function and pulmonary artery pressure while you’re at home. These daily readings are sent to our team, alerting us of potential problems before symptoms present. This tool allows us to monitor you before and after a medical event, adjusting treatments as needed.

Expertise

Our specialists use the most advanced technologies to identify, diagnose, and manage pulmonary hypertension conditions. In addition to using the latest methods of treatment, the AHN Pulmonary Hypertension Program:

Was the first Pulmonary Hypertension Center of Comprehensive Care in western Pennsylvania accredited by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association*.
Developed national, cutting-edge guidelines for assessing and treating pulmonary hypertension.
Treats more than 500 patients with all types of pulmonary hypertension each year.
Contributes to the REVEAL Registry™ — the world’s largest pulmonary arterial hypertension database.
Pioneers the use of genetic markers to individualize treatment plans (pharmacogenomics).
Is the only medical center in the region to offer complex surgical procedures and therapies for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Our CTEPH program is internationally recognized for exceptional patient results and expert care.

Program leaders

At the AHN Pulmonary Hypertension Program, you'll work with:

Heart failure cardiologists