Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, PPH

Primary pulmonary hypertension or PPH develops as the result of high blood pressure in the major blood vessel connecting the right heart ventricle and the lungs. (Lungs supply blood with oxygetn and remove carbon dioxide from blood). It is unknown exactly how primary pulmonary hypertension presents itself. PPH is also known as unexplained pulmonary hypertension or idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. The use of diet drugs like Fen Phen, Redux (dexfenfluramine) and Pondimin (fenfluramine) has been linked with causing primary pulmonary hypertension. Higher blood pressure in the pulmonary artery makes the heart work harder to deliver blood to the lungs. Because of this added strain, the heart muscles may eventually become weaker and fail.

Primary pulmonary hypertension is a rare lung disorder in the United States- approximately 1,000 new cases per year are diagnosed. Most PPH patients are women aged 20 to 40, but both genders and all age ranges are at risk. 163,000 hospital discharges in the year 2000 involved a diagnosis of primary pulmonary hypertension. Currently, there are treatments for primary pulmonary hypertension, but no cure.

Hypertension and the Cardiovascular System

Blood is received in the lungs after the heart pumps it from the right ventricle through the pulmonary artery. From there, the lungs add oxygen to the blood and eliminate carbon dioxide and other waste materials through exhalation. The blood then goes from the lungs back to the heart and the left ventricle pumps it to every part of the body. The heart's pumping action creates blood flow. Blood pressure results because there is resistance to this blood flow. The higher the resistance level to this blood flow, the higher a person's blood pressure gets. The medical term "hypertension" simply means blood pressure is higher than normal or that blood flow resistance is causing the blood pressure to be at a higher-than-normal rate.

Pulmonary Hypertension

Normal blood pressure in the pulmonary artery is between 14 and 18 mm Hg. Patients suffering from pulmonary hypertension can have a blood pressure up to 50% higher or up to 30 mm Hg. Certain changes in small blood vessels in the lungs create this high pressure. Blood is "backed up" because there is more and more resistance in these small vessels. Consequently, blood pressure in the pulmonary artery (feeds these small lung vessels) increases. The narrowing of the pulmonary artery can cause PPH. The increased force required to pump blood through a smaller artery creates higher blood pressure.

Deaths from Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

There is currently no cure for primary pulmonary hypertension. Still, proper treatment can help the right side of the heart and help avoid heart failure and death. One published study found 30% of untreated primary pulmonary hypertension patients died within three years of being diagnosed with PPH. Primary pulmonary hypertension treatments developed in the 1990s have helped relieve PPH symptoms and improve how PPH patients live.

PPH Lawsuit

Contact the law offices of Ferrer, Poirot & Wansbrough at 800 521 4492 or visit the firm's website at www.ppa-injury.com to get additional information about PPH victims' possible rights to compensation. With more than 20 years of experience representing personal injury victims and a great deal of experience litigating PPH victims, the attorneys of Ferrer, Poirot & Wansbrough are available to answer all your questions today.