This document discusses the pathophysiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). It begins by defining PAH as a rare disease characterized by elevated pulmonary artery pressures and resistance due to thickening of the small pulmonary arteries. Over time, the increased pressure and resistance leads to right heart failure. The document then examines the vascular remodeling process in PAH in detail, including muscularization of non-muscular arteries, increased muscularization of muscular arteries, formation of a neointima, and the development of plexiform lesions. Cellular changes like endothelial dysfunction and smooth muscle cell proliferation are also explored.
This document discusses the pathophysiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). It begins by defining PAH as a rare disease characterized by elevated pulmonary artery pressures and resistance due to thickening of the small pulmonary arteries. Over time, the increased pressure and resistance leads to right heart failure. The document then examines the vascular remodeling process in PAH in detail, including muscularization of non-muscular arteries, increased muscularization of muscular arteries, formation of a neointima, and the development of plexiform lesions. Cellular changes like endothelial dysfunction and smooth muscle cell proliferation are also explored.
