Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension
| Overview of Secondary PH/PAH Antiphospholipid Markers PH Secondary to MCTD |
PH Secondary to Pulmonary Fibrosis PH Secondary to Scleroderma PH Secondary to Scleroderma: Dyspnea |
Overview
Treatments— and their effectiveness—can vary depending on whether PH is primary or secondary.
When PH occurs along with other lung, heart, or systemic connective tissue disease (such as scleroderma), it is called Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension. The distinction is important because treatments, and their effectiveness, can vary depending upon whether the pulmonary hypertension is primary or secondary.
Antiphospholipid Antibodies (APLA) Markers in Secondary PH with Scleroderma
Antiphospholipid antibodies are markers for pulmonary hypertension in scleroderma patients.
(Expired Article) "Listen to the Patient" Anticoagulation Is Critical in the Antiphospholipid (Hughes) Syndrome (APS). Affecting, almost uniquely, both veins and arteries, the clinical features (of APS) range through deep vein thrombosis (DVT), chronic leg ulcers, recurrent miscarriages, headache, heart attacks, renal vein and artery thrombosis, to pulmonary embolism and even pulmonary hypertension. The Journal of Rheumatology. (Also see Antiphospholipid Syndrome, Leg Ulcers, Pregnancy and Scleroderma, and Cardiac Involvement)
PH Secondary to Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD)
Prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in an unselected, mixed connective tissue disease cohort. Results of a nationwide, Norwegian cross-sectional multicentre study and review of current literature. The prevalence of PH is much lower than expected from previous studies but confirm the seriousness of the disease complication. Rheumatology (Oxford).
PH Secondary to Pulmonary Fibrosis
Pulmonary Fibrosis. Pulmonary Hypertension can occur in pulmonary fibrosis, even without severe lung dysfunction or hypoxemia (low oxygen in the blood.) ISN.
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Living with PF Treatments Research Patient Stories References |
PH Secondary to Systemic Sclerosis (SSc, or Scleroderma)
Reduced right ventricular output reserve in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and mildly elevated pulmonary arterial pressures (mPAP). These findings give further evidence for the clinical relevance of mildly elevated mPAP in patients with SSc. PubMed, Arthritis Rheumatol, 01/07/2019.
Angiogenic and inflammatory biomarkers for screening and follow-up in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Plasma levels of PlGF, sVEGFR-1, TNF-α, and VEGF-D have potential in screening for SSc-associated PAH. PubMed, Scand J Rheumatol, 2018 Jul;47(4):319-324.
PH Secondary to Scleroderma: Dyspnea (Shortness of Breath)
Myositis overlap is another very common cause of shortness of breath in scleroderma patients, besides PH.
Increased respiratory drive relates to severity of dyspnea in systemic sclerosis (SSc). In SSc patients an abnormal V'E/P0.1 better relates to the severity of dyspnea than traditional lung function parameters and can easily be assessed at first outpatient consultation. PubMed, BMC Pulm Med.
Pulmonary fibrosis is a frequent cause of PH in scleroderma patients.
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) for detecting pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in systemic sclerosis (SSc). CPET is a safe and valuable method in the non-invasive detection of SSc–associated PAH and it may be particularly beneficial for reducing unnecessary right heart catheterisation procedures. PubMed, Heart, 01/06/2017. (Also see Cardiac Involvement)
SCLERO.ORG was the world's leading nonprofit for trustworthy research, support, education and awareness for scleroderma and related illnesses from 1998 to 2021. It was a grassroots movement from the original Scleroderma from A to Z web site, which was founded by Shelley Ensz. We were a 501(c)(3) U.S.-based public charitable foundation. We closed this web site and our nonprofit agency in April 2021.