[Pulmonary Hypertension in Childhood - An Update from the World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension 2024]

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) can occur at any stage of life, from neonatal to adulthood, although very specific, age-dependent characteristics must be taken into account in children. Pulmonary hypertension in children is not a circumscribed clinical picture, but describes a haemodynamic condition that can be caused by different factors, which require an age-appropriate, complete, guideline-based diagnostic clarification in order to enable correct phenotyping, characterization and classification, as well as targeted treatment of the underlying disease. In their recent report from the World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension (WSPH) 2024, the pediatric task force summarized new data and developments that have led to updated consensus recommendations regarding the diagnosis and treatment of PH in childhood. These include an age-correlated characterization and definition of pediatric PH, expanded risk assessment in children, and a new treatment algorithm that includes cardiopulmonary comorbidities for the first time. This manuscript provides an update on the most important innovations of the WSPH, supplemented by expert commentary with reference to recent literature.

• Apitz, C.
• Lammers, A. E.
• Hager, A.
• Uebing, A.
• von Scheidt, F.
• Schmidt, K. H.
• Huntgeburth, M.
• Kozlik-Feldmann, R.
• Eichstaedt, C. A.
• Gorenflo, M.
• Pattathu, J.
• Geiger, R.