Pulmonary arterial hypertension: Basic knowledge for clinicians

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a progressive syndrome based on diverse aetiologies, which is characterized by a persistent increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and overload of the right ventricle, leading to heart failure and death. Currently, none of the available treatments is able to cure pulmonary arterial hypertension; additional research is therefore needed to unravel the associated pathophysiological mechanisms. This review summarizes current knowledge related to this disorder, and the several experimental animal models that can mimic pulmonary arterial hypertension and are available for translational research.

Keywords: Hypertension artérielle pulmonaire (HTAP); Insuffisance ventriculaire droite; Mécanismes physiopathologiques et modèles expérimentaux de l’HTAP; Pathophysiological mechanisms; Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Pulmonary arterial hypertension experimental models; Right ventricular failure.