Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

Primary pulmonary vascular sclerosis was first fully described by Brenner (1935) who stressed the presence of hypertrophy of the right, but not of the left ventricle; he concluded his description with the opinion that primary sclerosis is not a pathological entity but includes several conditions. Other authors, notably De Navasquez et al. (1940), preferred the term " primary or idiopathic right ventricular hypertrophy." Until recently pulmonary hypertension was an assumption from the physical signs and morbid anatomy, but in the last few years evidence has accrued from cardiac catheterization that it does in fact exist in these cases.