Pulmonary hypertension (PH) often complicates chronic left-sided heart failure, with a remarkable impact on quality of life, exercise capacity, and survival. PH in chronic left-sided heart failure (PH-LHD) is not only caused by backward transmission of pressures but also involves impairment of atrial function, inflammation, and vasoconstriction. Once the left atrium loses its reservoir capacity, usually pulmonary vascular resistances increase. Right atrial dilation commonly represents the first sign of PH-LHD, before right ventricle dilatation and systolic dysfunction develop, leading to right heart insufficiency, and ultimately, right heart failure.
- Marra, A. M.
- Benjamin, N.
- Cittadini, A.
- Bossone, E.
- Grunig, E.
Keywords
- Echocardiography
- Heart Failure/*complications/diagnosis/physiopathology
- Humans
- Hypertension, Pulmonary/diagnosis/*etiology/physiopathology
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine
- Prognosis
- Pulmonary Wedge Pressure/*physiology
- Quality of Life
- Vascular Resistance/*physiology
- Ventricular Function, Left/*physiology
- Chronic heart failure
- Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Right ventricle
