What tests are done to determine PAH over other causes of elevated pulmonary pressures?
Testing to establish the diagnosis of PAH typically involves 3 broad considerations: • Unequivocally establishing the level and amount of abnormal pressures in the lung. • Evaluating patients for other causes of increased pulmonary pressures that could account for the current clinical picture. • Evaluating patients for systemic conditions that are associated with PAH but may be subtle or unsuspected. These tests usually include a thorough evaluation of the function of the heart and lungs as well as blood testing. If these studies identify no alternate cardiovascular or pulmonary disease that could account for the pulmonary hypertension, the diagnosis is PAH.
