Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic

A number of conditions can lead to pulmonary hypertension. Some babies are born with narrowed pulmonary arteries. In other children and adults, pulmonary hypertension develops over time as a result of other health problems, such as:

  • Congenital (present at birth) heart defects
  • Left-sided heart disease such as mitral valve disease
  • Lung disease such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia
  • Abnormal lung development such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia
  • HIV
  • Connective tissue diseases
  • Autoimmune diseases such as lupus or scleroderma
  • Sleep apnea and other breathing disorders
  • Blood diseases such as sickle cell anemia or other clotting disorders
  • Liver disease
  • Certain drugs or toxins

In rare cases, pulmonary hypertension is an inherited condition. Sometimes the cause is unknown. This is called idiopathic pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension can’t be cured, but it can be treated. The earlier treatment starts, the better the outcomes will be.