Iveta Šimková, Monika Kaldarárová
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been defined as an increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥ 25 mmHg at rest as assessed by right heart catheterization. In general, PH is a severe, progressive and problematically curable disease. For classification, long-term management and treatment of particular categories of PH the key step is to recognize risk factors as well as to reveal the pathofysiological mechanisms in pulmonary circulation. Current PH classification is based mainly on etiopathogenetic aspects but respects clinical and therapeutical characteristics as well. The syndrome of PH is divided into 5 groups with similar pathogenesis, histological findings, clinical picture and treatment algorithms. The wide spectrum of diseases associated with PH requires multidisciplinary approach and the primary detection therefore lies in the hands of many medical specialties. On the other hand, due to the particularities of diagnostics and treatment it is necessary to concentrate the management of PH in expert centres.