RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH PULMONARY HYPERTENSION

[KATHLEENB]

I recently had a r and l heart cath and was diagnosed with mild pulmonary hypertension and abnormal left ventricular diastolic function.  my numbers are as listed below
pcwp 21/23 with a mean of 16
PA Systolic pressure 38 with diastolic 19, mean of 28.
RV systolic was 36 with an EDP of 10
RA 14/11 with a mean of 9
and o2 saturation at 78%
L ventricular systolic pressure 142-post ventriculography 154
l ventricular end diastolic pressure was 18, and EDP post l ventriculography 20.
Ao saturation 95%.

I have asthma and bronchitis, mild hypertensive heart disease, hyperlipedemia but no CAD, my chest xrays are normal and no one has said I have COPD.

What does all of this mean.  I have not seen my cardiologist since the procedure only the PA and I am now not scheduled to see him until April of 09.  I was wondering if it is serious and should I attempt to see a pulmonologist instead of my cardiologist

[National Jewish Health]

The first thing you should do is to arrange to meet, either with your cardiologist, or with the cardiologist who performed the cardiac catheterization to discuss their interpretation of the data.  You should do that now and absolutely not wait until April 9, not because this is so serious but because you have a right to know what is going on with your cardiovascular function and specifically, do you really have primary pulmonary hypertension or is the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) elevated in response to what is going on in the left ventricle.  I am not a cardiologist but am impressed with the fact all your pressures, left and right ventricular, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and PAP are elevated and wonder if constrictive pericarditis might be a consideration.  You should ask the cardiologist about this.  You should also request a copy of the official report of the catheterization; that is the interpretation of the data.

You may eventually want to see a pulmonologist but you would do well to get the above settled first.

Good luck.

[lastlap]

KATHELEENB.

I suffer from PAH (pulmonary aterial hypertension). I am currently using a drug called tracleer and another drug called revatio. The drugs appear to help with me being able to move around more. I also am using oxygen. As soon as I come off the oxygen, my 02 sats drop rapidly. I am working on it with my pulmonologist. I would suggest that someone go over the cat results with you and most definitely see a pulmonologist. I take advir, singular too. I am quite overweight, so I am going to work on losing the weight to see how that will effect my lungs. Good luck and don't put off going to see the specialists