The Right Heart-Pulmonary Circulation Unit in Systemic Hypertension

Abstract

Systemic hypertension is a risk factor for left heart failure, mostly with preserved ejection fraction. Left heart failure is a cause of pulmonary hypertension and eventual right ventricular (RV) failure. There has been report of altered RV function in mild to moderate hypertension with preserved systolic as well as diastolic function of the left ventricle. The pathophysiology of this complication of hypertension is unclear. Preserving the RV and preventing the development of pulmonary vascular disease may be considered among the targets of optimized therapy for systemic hypertension.

Keywords: Arterial stiffness; Pulmonary hypertension; Right heart failure; Right ventricle; Systemic hypertension.