Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Nonspecific Interstitial Pneumonia
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) commonly occurs in chronic interstitial lung disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, conditions in which nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) is also often found. For those suffering disorders of the lung, it is important to understand more about PAH and NSIP, including current means of diagnosis, as well as management and treatment options.
Read more about the pathophysiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension here.
PAH refers to high blood pressure in the lungs and it’s a condition that worsens over time and can be potentially fatal since increased pressure in the lung arteries can strain the heart and cause heart failure. On the other hand, NSIP is a rare disease that affects the tiny air sacs, called alveoli, found within the lungs. The walls of the alveoli become swollen, as does the thin covering that protects the lungs, called the pleura. Two forms of NSIP exist, known as cellular and fibrotic. In the fibrotic form, there is additional scarring and the prognosis is poorer.
How can PAH and NSIP be related?
The frequency of occurrence and clinical features of pulmonary hypertension in patients with idiopathic NSIP are not fully understood due to a lack of reliable data. But it is believed that PH is most often diagnosed in interstitial lung diseases that involve connective tissue diseases whose underlying trigger is often nonspecific interstitial pneumonia.
Pulmonary Hypertension News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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