PAH Flashcards
What is the life expectancy of untreated PAH?
3 Y
What is the PAH?
HTN in pulmonary artery
What is the normal PAP? During exercise?
N: 8-20 mag at rest
PH: mPAP > at rest, >30 during excersise
Pathophysiology of PAH?
- Imbalance in vasoconstrictors and dilators
- Imbalance in cell proliferation and apoptosis
How are vasoconstrictors affected in PAH?
ET1 and TXA2 increase
How are vasodilators affected in PAH?
Prostocyclins increase inhibits platelet aggregation and antiproliferation
How can PAH cause imbalances in cell proliferation and apoptosis?
Increased smooth muscle cells in pulmonary artery → further artery narrowing → more difficult for right ventricle (RV) to pump blood into lungs → enlarged RV and right heart failure (HF)
What are risk factors of PAH?
- Anorexigens
- HIV infection
- increased pulmonary flow
- Portal HTN
- Connective tissue destruction
What are the diagnosis tests for PAH?
- Doppler Echo
- Echocardiography
- Right heart catheterization (RHC)
What is Doppler Echo?
- Noninvasive
- Detects increase pulmonary pressures
- Can’t definitively diagnose
- First if PH is suspected
What is echocardiography?
- Can detect specific cardiac causes
- Used to assess treatment effects and progression
What is RHC?
- Definitive
- Used to evaluate clinical worsening
- Asses vasoreactivity
- mPAP≥25 with PCWP≤15 and PVR≥3
What are the classification systems of PAH?
Clinical and functional
What is the difference between clinical and functional classifications?
Clinical: classifies etiologies (Groups 1-5)
Functional: classifies symptoms and severity (Class1-IV), increases as disease worsens
What falls under group 1 PAH?
Drug induced PAH
What is class 1?
Symptom free when physically active or resting
What is class 2?
No symptoms at rest but some discomfort and SOB
What is class 3?
Resting may be symptom free but limitations due to SOB or feeling tired
What is class 4?
Symptoms at rest and severe symptoms with activity
What is the purpose for monitoring parameters?
Determine baseline, functional classification, and monitor severity, response to therapy, risk level, prognosis, progression
How would we monitor parameters?
- Pulmonary unction tests
- ABGs
- 6MWD
- Serial biomarkers (bnp, LFTs)
What are the non-pharms for PAH?
- Sodium restriction <2.4 g/day
- Influenza and pneumonia vaccinations
- Oxygen to maintain sats >90%: Particularly if PaO2 <60
- Cardiopulmonary rehab
What are the types of pharm therapies?
- Supportive therapy
- Targeted therapy
What are examples of supportive therapies?
- Warfarin
- Loop diuretics for volume overload
- Digoxin to improve HR and CO
Characteristics of warfarin supportive therapy?
- Controversial (varies by MD)
- INR goal 1.5-2.5
- May consider if on long-term IV prostaglandins due to risk of catheter thrombosis
- NOT recommended if portal HTN or HIV is the etiology
What is the rationale behind warfarin?
HF, immobility, thrombotic changes in pulmonary microcirculation
Characteristics of digoxin supportive therapy?
- Adjunct with diuretics in R HF
- Arrhythmias
- Goal level 0.5-0.8 ng/mL
What are the classes of targeted therapy?
- Prostacyclin Analogues and Agonists
- Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
- Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors
- Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Inhibitors
- (supplement endogenous vasodilators, inhibit endogenous vasoconstrictors, reduce endothelial platelet interactions)