Determinants of prognosis and management of patients with pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease: a systematic review

Abstract

Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with left heart disease usually have a complex comorbidity status and a postcapillary component of PH. The presence and identification of a combined post-/precapillary PH in a cohort of patients with left heart disease is reflected in the more pronounced structural and functional right ventricular changes due to higher pulmonary vascular resistance. Patients with combined post-/ precapillary PH have reduced exercise tolerance and PH phenotype similar to pulmonary arterial hypertension. Detection of combined PH is critical as it may influence the prognosis and management of patients. This review presents modern prognosis markers for patients with PH due to left heart disease, which can be used in clinical practice. The results of randomized clinical trials and pilot studies on the expansion of treatment options in group 2 patients, including the use of PAH-specific agents, were analyzed. The prospects for the treatment of this cohort of patients are discussed.

Keywords

• pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease
• combined post-/ precapillary pulmonary hypertension
• prognostic markers
• treatment prospects