This review summarizes the normal structure and function of the right ventricle and the impact of pulmonary arterial hypertension and its treatments on right ventricular function.
Right ventricular function, rather than the degree of vascular injury, is the major determinant of symptoms and survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a term used to classify a variety of conditions that share in common an injury to the pulmonary vasculature that produces elevations in pulmonary arterial pressure. However, it is the integrity of right ventricular function, rather than the degree of vascular injury, that is the major determinant of symptoms and survival in PAH. The article will review the normal structure and function of the right ventricle and summarize the impact of PAH and its treatments on right ventricular function.
Chin et al. (2005) conducted a review in Pulmonary arterial hypertension. This review summarizes the normal structure and function of the right ventricle and the impact of pulmonary arterial hypertension and its treatments on right ventricular function.