Comprehensive diagnostic testing

We employ various diagnostic tests to evaluate and diagnose pulmonary hypertension:

• Blood tests: These measure oxygen levels, liver and kidney function, and other vital indicators to assess the presence of pulmonary hypertension and guide treatment.
• Chest radiograph (X-ray): This imaging technique reveals pulmonary hypertension signs like enlarged arteries and scarring in the lungs.
• Echocardiogram: By generating dynamic images of your heart, this ultrasound procedure assesses chamber dimensions, valve structures, and function, aiding in estimating right heart chamber pressures.
• Electrocardiogram: Small skin electrodes record your heart’s electrical impulses, helping identify abnormal rhythms, assess function, and detect prior heart muscle damage risk.
• Cardiac catheterization: A catheter is advanced through a blood vessel to the heart to diagnose pulmonary hypertension and associated heart muscle damage.
• Lung function tests: These assess lung capacity, air movement, and gas exchange.
• Nuclear lung scan: This imaging tool identifies blood clots contributing to pulmonary hypertension.
• Six-minute walk test: This exercise tolerance assessment aids in gauging the severity of pulmonary hypertension.

Advanced treatment options

• Oral medication: Oral drugs are administered to enhance your heart’s blood-pumping ability, reduce excess fluid that exerts pressure on the heart, and prevent blood clot formation by thinning the blood.
• Intravenous (IV) medicines: Intravenous medications have shown exceptional effectiveness in addressing blood vessel scarring responsible for pulmonary arterial hypertension and lowering elevated heart pressure. They can alleviate chest discomfort and shortness of breath.
• Inhaled medicines: We provide a range of inhaled treatment options designed to alleviate shortness of breath, including oxygen therapies, iloprost, and inhaled treprostinil.
• Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE): This surgical intervention aims to eliminate blood clots from the lung arteries, making breathing easier.
• Lung or heart-lung transplant: For individuals whose lungs and/or heart have sustained significant damage from pulmonary hypertension despite conventional treatments, a lung transplant may be a viable option. Duke ranks among the nation’s leading centers for performing lung and heart-lung transplants each year.
• Pulmonary rehabilitation: Throughout your treatment journey, we provide supervised exercise programs, education, and medical management. Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance lung function, alleviate symptoms, and effectively manage your pulmonary hypertension. This includes guidance on exercise, nutrition, smoking cessation, weight management, and other lifestyle modifications.

Why choose our program: The UTHealth Houston advantage

Assessing and managing pulmonary hypertension is a complex undertaking. At UTHealth Houston, our dedicated pulmonary hypertension team stands at the forefront in this field. We specialize in the intricacies of diagnosing and treating pulmonary hypertension, leveraging advanced knowledge and innovative techniques.

• Collaborative team-based care: We’re one of the pioneering institutions in the country where pulmonologists and cardiologists collaborate closely to address the multifaceted nature of pulmonary hypertension, a condition that profoundly impacts both your cardiac and respiratory health. Your healthcare team extends to include specialists in pulmonary rehabilitation, nurses with dedicated expertise in pulmonary hypertension, and various other healthcare professionals well-versed in the nuances of pulmonary hypertension management.
• Access to leading-edge therapies: With our extensive repository of the latest pulmonary hypertension research, we ensure you have access to the most cutting-edge and effective treatments. Our pulmonary hypertension experts are actively involved in ongoing research efforts aimed at advancing the understanding and management of this condition, encompassing novel diagnostic methods and innovative medications.
• Expertise in CTEPH treatment: For individuals facing chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), the potentially curable form of pulmonary hypertension, our program boasts decades of experience in delivering specialized medical and surgical care for this intricate condition.
• Comprehensive support services: Our pulmonary rehabilitation initiative empowers you with essential knowledge about your condition and guides you in adopting lifestyle modifications that foster better control of pulmonary hypertension and an enhanced quality of life. Our support staff also adeptly navigate the intricacies of working with your insurance provider and pharmaceutical companies, streamlining your care.
• Transplant specialists: In scenarios necessitating a lung or heart-lung transplant, our transplant programs have consistently embraced some of the most challenging cases nationwide, demonstrating our commitment to excellence in complex transplantation.