New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies for Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Left Heart Disease.

OPINION STATEMENT: Pulmonary hypertension associated with left heart disease (PH-LHD) is a challenging entity to both diagnose and treat. A lack of consensus definitions, poorly understood pathophysiology, and the dynamic nature of hemodynamic assessments make this disease entity both underrecognized and misdiagnosed frequently. Diagnosing PH-LHD is crucial, because it not only alters management, but also has a direct effect on morbidity and mortality and ultimately leads to worse outcomes in this patient population. Though medical management remains challenging in these patients, an appropriate diagnosis, with careful assessment of hemodynamic parameters, can allow for appropriate advanced medical therapies and for improved quality of life.