Annales de cardiologie et d'angéiologie
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Ann Cardiol Angeiol (Paris) · Nov 2009
[Pulmonary hypertension and heart failure: the role of pulmonary vasculature].
Left heart disease is the most common cause of pulmonary hypertension. Increased left-sided filling pressure leads to passive postcapillary venous hypertension. In some patients, pulmonary vasoconstriction and vascular remodeling may lead to a further increase in pulmonary pressure. ⋯ The contribution of precapillary PH in diastolic heart failure is not known but can be significant and lead to disproportionate PH particularly in elderly. The precapillary component of pulmonary hypertension could be a therapeutic target for specific pulmonary vasodilators. Until now pharmacological trials has been disappointing and those medications can be dangerous because of increasing blood flow to the pulmonary capillaries with a risk of pulmonary edema when left sided pressure are still elevated.