Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

What are the treatments for the disease?

The only cure for primary pulmonary hypertension is a lung transplant to replace both lungs. Sometimes a heart transplant is also needed. Medications can be used to improve symptoms for a short time, but the person usually dies unless he or she receives a lung transplant.

What are the side effects of the treatments?

All medications have possible side effects. These may include allergic reactions and low blood pressure. Lung and heart transplants are major operations that can result in bleeding, infection, and death.

What happens after treatment for the disease?

A person will generally need lifelong treatment. If a lung transplant is not done, the types of medications and the doses will need to increase as the condition gets worse. If a transplant is done, the person will need to take strong medications, which have severe side effects. Intense monitoring is also needed after a transplant.

How is the disease monitored?

A person with primary pulmonary hypertension needs lifelong monitoring with blood tests, breathing tests, special blood pressure measurements, and various x-ray tests.