Pulmonary artery disease

Pulmonary artery disease encompasses a range of disorders that affect the pulmonary vasculature, including pulmonary hypertension, thromboembolic disease, and vascular malformations. These conditions disrupt blood flow through the lungs, impair oxygen delivery, and can lead to right heart strain or failure. Patients may present with exertional dyspnea, fatigue, chest pain, syncope, or hemoptysis. Accurate diagnosis requires comprehensive assessment, including echocardiography, right heart catheterization, imaging studies, and laboratory evaluation to determine underlying causes and disease severity. Early recognition is critical to prevent progressive pulmonary vascular remodeling and cardiopulmonary complications.

Management of pulmonary artery disease involves both disease-specific therapy and supportive care. Treatment strategies may include vasodilators, anticoagulation, thrombolytic therapy, or surgical interventions, depending on etiology. Supportive measures such as oxygen therapy, exercise training, and lifestyle modification are essential to optimize functional capacity. Regular monitoring by a multidisciplinary team, including pulmonologists, cardiologists, and vascular specialists, allows timely adjustment of therapy and early detection of complications. Patient education on symptom monitoring, medication adherence, and activity modification is integral to long-term management. Emerging research into pulmonary vascular biology and novel therapeutics continues to improve outcomes and quality of life for patients with pulmonary artery disease.