Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Treatments

Primary pulmonary hypertension is a rare lung condition characterized by unexplained high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. According to the American Heart Association, only between 500 and 1,000 cases of PPH are diagnosed each year. There is no cure for the condition, but several medical treatments are available to slow its progression and ease symptoms.

Oxygen

• Some people with primary pulmonary hypertension will need oxygen therapy. In severe cases, patients may require nonstop oxygen treatments.

Calcium Channel Blockers

• According to the American Heart Association, about 25 percent of PPH patients can be successfully treated with calcium channel blockers, which work by decreasing blood pressure.

Anticoagulants

• Anticoagulants can help primary pulmonary hypertension patients by decreasing the chances that blood will clot, which will then help it flow more freely through the body.

Diuretics

• Diuretics help PPH patients by reducing the amount of fluid in the body. When the body is less bloated, the heart does not have to work as hard, which helps ease PPH symptoms.

Vasodilators

• Vasodilators can be given intravenously to PPH patients who do not respond to calcium channel blockers. Patients have a battery-operated pump that continues to deliver the medication to the body.

Transplant

• PPH patients who do not have a positive response to other treatment options may need a lung transplant or a heart and lung transplant.