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Primary Pulmonary Hypertension:
When the cause of PH can be determined, it is sometimes referred to as secondary PH. When the cause of PH cannot be determined, even after appropriate testing, it is referred to as Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (“PPH”). In this regard, PPH is referred to as a “diagnosis of exclusion”.
Treatment of PPH:
While there is no cure for PPH, there are medical treatments that can improve the symptoms and effects of the condition. Recent medical developments now give physicians and patients more options in the medical treatment of PPH. Treatments include:
- Anticoagulants
- Diuretics
- Calcium channel blockers
- Supplemental oxygen
- Digoxin
- Epoprostenol (Flolan®)
- Bosentan (Tracleer ®)
- Treprostinil (Rmodulin?)
According to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association brochure Pulmonary Hypertension: Helpful Information for Patients and Families:
“Most of the current treatments for PH are prescribed for specific problems caused by the disease. If you have a combination of symptoms, you may receive different types of medication alone or combined with others, such as:
- Anticoagulants to prevent blood clots in the lungs
- Calcium channel blockers to relieve constriction in pulmonary arteries
- Digoxin to help the heart pump blood more effectively
- Diuretics to reduce fluid in the system
- Inhaled oxygen to make more oxygen available to the blood
- Bosentan (brand name Tracleer®) is an oral endothelin receptor antagonist, or ERA. It affects endothelin, a natural chemical in the body that plays an important role in the development of PAH. Bosentan works by reducing the high blood pressure in the lungs, thereby enabling the heart to pump blood more effectively. Bosentan is administered in simple pill form.
- Epoprostenol (brand name Flolan®) is a prostacyclin analogue that helps open up constricted lung blood vessels, thereby reducing the high blood pressure in the lungs. This medication is delivered by a constant intravenous infusion.
- Treprostinil (brand name Remodulin?) is also a prostacyclin analogue used to open constricted blood vessels. It is administered through a continuous subcutaneous (under the skin) infusion.
For patients who do not respond to any of these treatments, a lung transplant may be recommended.”
To visit the Pulmonary Hypertension Association website click here.
To read the entire Pulmonary Hypertension Association brochure Pulmonary Hypertension: Helpful Information for Patients and Families click here.
Do I have a case for compensation for PPH treatment expenses? |
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