Pulmonary hypertension - The new ESC guideline

The current guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH) contain several important new aspects. The definition of PH is changed to a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) of >20mmHg in combination with PVR threshold value of >2 Wood units to a define a precapillary component. The clinical classification of PH still distinguishes 5 main groups. The diagnostic algorithm begins with the evaluation of dyspnea in primary care and early referral of patients with suspected PAH (group I), CTEPH (group IV) or severe PH of other groups.Initial treatment planning in PAH is guided by complex risk assessment in 3 risk levels, follow-up assessment is performed using 3 parameters (WHO-FC, NT-proBNP, and 6MWD) with 4 risk levels or individually in patients with comorbidities.For low or intermediate risk patients, initial combination therapy with a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor and an endothelin receptor antagonist is recommended. In high-risk patients, initial triple combination therapy with additional prostacyclin analogues should be considered.Diagnosis and treatment of CTEPH including pulmonary endarterectomy, medical therapy and pulmonary balloon angioplasty should be carried out in CTEPH centers.Patients with severe PH (PVR >5WE) due to PH group II, III or V should be referred to the PH center for study inclusion or individual therapy.