STRATEGIES FOR INDIVIDUALIZING PULMONARY HYPERTENSION TREATMENT TO ENSURE OPTIMAL PATIENT OUTCOMES

Course overview

IN 2019, THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CHEST PHYSICIANS (ACCP) PUBLISHED TREATMENT GUIDELINES ON THE MANAGEMENT OF PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION (PAH). THESE GUIDELINES INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON RECENTLY APPROVED THERAPIES AND DISCUSSIONS OF RECENT CLINICAL TRIAL DATA ON MONOTHERAPY AND COMBINATION TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR PAH. ADDITIONALLY IN 2019, THE 6TH WORLD SYMPOSIUM ON PULMONARY HYPERTENSION PROPOSED AN UPDATED TREATMENT ALGORITHM FOR PAH. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE RARITY OF PAH, VERY FEW PATIENTS ARE RECEIVING SPECIALIZED THERAPY AT ANY GIVEN TIME. CLINICIANS WHO ARE NOT SPECIALIZED MAY HAVE LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OF THE CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND HEMODYNAMIC DEFINITIONS OF PAH AS WELL AS THE SAFETY PROFILES OF AGENTS USED TO TREAT THIS DISEASE. THIS UNDERSCORES THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL EDUCATION ON APPROPRIATE DIAGNOSTIC STRATEGIES AND EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT PLANS FOR PAH.