Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is classified into five major groups, not stages, for clinical purposes. These groups help doctors understand the underlying cause of the condition and guide treatment strategies. These categories are:
5 Clinical Groups of Pulmonary Hypertension
It's important to note that these are groups or classifications, not progressive stages of the disease. Here's a breakdown:
| Group | Description |
|---|---|
| Group 1: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) | This group includes conditions that directly affect the small arteries in the lungs, leading to increased pressure. It may be idiopathic (cause unknown), hereditary, or associated with other conditions. |
| Group 2: Pulmonary Hypertension due to Left Heart Disease (PH-LHD) | This group arises because of issues with the left side of the heart, which cause blood to back up into the lungs, increasing pressure. |
| Group 3: Pulmonary Hypertension due to Lung Disease and/or Hypoxia (PH-LD) | This group is linked to chronic lung diseases or conditions that lead to low oxygen levels (hypoxia). These lung diseases can cause changes in the pulmonary arteries that lead to PH. |
| Group 4: Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH) | This type develops when blood clots in the lungs don't dissolve, leading to blockages that cause elevated blood pressure within the pulmonary arteries. |
| Group 5: Pulmonary Hypertension with Unclear and/or Multifactorial Mechanisms | This final group includes conditions of PH that do not fit neatly into the previous categories. These mechanisms can involve hematologic, systemic, or metabolic diseases with multiple causes. |
It is crucial to recognize that pulmonary hypertension is not a disease that progresses through these stages. Rather, individuals can have pulmonary hypertension that falls into one of these five classifications.
These classifications, as described in medical literature and confirmed in the reference provided, are used to categorize and guide management of PH and do not refer to disease stages. Each category has different causes and needs tailored treatment approaches.
