ERJ
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Permissions
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (28)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Widlitz, A.
Right arrow Articles by Barst, R.J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Widlitz, A.
Right arrow Articles by Barst, R.J.
Eur Respir J 2003; 21:155-176
Copyright ©ERS Journals Ltd 2003


Pulmonary arterial hypertension in children

A. Widlitz and R.J. Barst

Dept of Pediatrics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA

CORRESPONDENCE: R.J. Barst, 3959 Broadway, BHN-2 New York, NY, 10032, USA. Fax: 1 2123054429. E-mail: rjb3@columbia.edu

Keywords: paediatrics, pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary heart disease

Received: September 24, 2002
Accepted October 3, 2002

Abstract

For physicians to admit that a group of patients remains for whom no cure is available in modern medicine is intellectually unsatisfying. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rare condition. Because the symptoms are nonspecific and the physical finding can be subtle, the disease is often diagnosed in its later stages. The natural history of pulmonary arterial hypertension is usually progressive and fatal.

At the 1998 Primary Pulmonary Hypertension World Symposium, clinical scientists from around the world gathered to review and discuss the future of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Bringing together experts from a variety of disciplines provided the opportunity for a better understanding of the pathology, pathobiology, risk factors, genetics, diagnosis and treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Remarkable progress has been made in the field of pulmonary arterial hypertension over the past several decades. The pathology is now better defined and significant advances have occurred in understanding the pathobiological mechanisms. Risk factors have been identified and the genetics have been characterised. Advances in technology allow earlier diagnosis as well as better assessment of disease severity. Therapeutic modalities such as new drugs, e.g. epoprostenol, treprostinil and bosentan, and surgical interventions, e.g. transplantation and blade septostomy, which were unavailable several decades ago, have had a significant impact on prognosis and outcome. Thus, despite the inability to really cure pulmonary arterial hypertension, therapeutic advances over the past two decades have resulted in significant improvements in the outcome for children with various forms of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

This review of pulmonary arterial hypertension will highlight the key features of pulmonary hypertension in infants and children and the current understanding of pulmonary arterial hypertension with specific recommendations for current practice and future directions.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol.Home page
K. R. Stenmark, B. Meyrick, N. Galie, W. J. Mooi, and I. F. McMurtry
Animal models of pulmonary arterial hypertension: the hope for etiological discovery and pharmacological cure
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, December 1, 2009; 297(6): L1013 - L1032.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ThoraxHome page
I M Balfour-Lynn, D J Field, P Gringras, B Hicks, E Jardine, R C Jones, A G Magee, R A Primhak, M P Samuels, N J Shaw, et al.
BTS guidelines for home oxygen in children
Thorax, August 1, 2009; 64(Suppl_2): ii1 - ii26.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ERRHome page
M. Beghetti
Paediatric pulmonary hypertension: monitoring progress and identifying unmet needs
Eur. Respir. Rev., March 1, 2009; 18(111): 18 - 23.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol.Home page
D. K. Hirenallur-S., S. T. Haworth, J. T. Leming, J. Chang, G. Hernandez, J. B. Gordon, and N. J. Rusch
Upregulation of vascular calcium channels in neonatal piglets with hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, November 1, 2008; 295(5): L915 - L924.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HeartHome page
A Micheletti, A A Hislop, A Lammers, P Bonhoeffer, G Derrick, P Rees, and S G Haworth
Role of atrial septostomy in the treatment of children with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Heart, July 1, 2006; 92(7): 969 - 972.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
E. B. Rosenzweig, D. D. Ivy, A. Widlitz, A. Doran, L. R. Claussen, D. Yung, S. H. Abman, A. Morganti, N. Nguyen, and R. J. Barst
Effects of Long-Term Bosentan in Children With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 16, 2005; 46(4): 697 - 704.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EDUCATION AND PRACTICEHome page
K. Ford
Pulmonary artery hypertension: new drug treatment in children
Arch. Dis. Child. Ed. Pract., June 1, 2005; 90(1): ep15 - ep20.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ThoraxHome page
I M Balfour-Lynn, R A Primhak, and B N J Shaw
Home oxygen for children: who, how and when?
Thorax, January 1, 2005; 60(1): 76 - 81.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
A Rashid and D Ivy
Severe paediatric pulmonary hypertension: new management strategies
Arch. Dis. Child., January 1, 2005; 90(1): 92 - 98.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
M.-T. Kasimir, G. Seebacher, P. Jaksch, G. Winkler, K. Schmid, G. M. Marta, P. Simon, and W. Klepetko
Reverse cardiac remodelling in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension after isolated lung transplantation
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., October 1, 2004; 26(4): 776 - 781.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
B. M. Tsai, M. Wang, M. W. Turrentine, Y. Mahomed, J. W. Brown, and D. R. Meldrum
Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in cardiothoracic surgery: basic mechanisms to potential therapies
Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 2004; 78(1): 360 - 368.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Respir JHome page
S.M. Kawut and H.I. Palevsky
New answers raise new questions in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Eur. Respir. J., June 1, 2004; 23(6): 799 - 801.
[Full Text] [PDF]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2003 by the European Respiratory Society.