Pulmonary vascular disease: pulmonary thromboembolism and pulmonary hypertension

The last 10 years have seen significant progress in our understanding of the pathophysiology and epidemiology of the different forms of pulmonary hypertension (PH). These advances have allowed appropriate classification of the spectrum of disorders causing pulmonary hypertension; recognition and validation of specific treatments for selected forms of pulmonary hypertension with significant improvement in the prognosis for patients, in parts of the world where new drugs are available. Severe PH is an under-recognized problem and a major challenge now is to apply the scientific and therapeutic breakthroughs made in the rarer forms of the condition to the large number of patients with severe PH throughout the world.