What Can I Do About Pulmonary Hypertension And Abnormally Sized Pulmonary Artery?

Posted on Sat, 8 Sep 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 8 Sep 2018 Answered on

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 Last reviewed on

Question : i was diagnosed via a CT scan as having pulmonary hypertension. My pumonary artery measured 33.8mm. Is this a grossly abnormal result?

Answered by Dr. Sagar Makode (19 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It's mildly elevated

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

I guess you don't have any symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain or blood in sputum. And absence of symptoms makes possibility of severe disease less likely. The mentioned pulmonary diameter is just mildly elevated. However, due to this, we should get Echo done to remeasure pulmonary artery diameter and calculating pressure in order to determine whether there is pulmonary hypertension is there or not.

Echo is a better modality to decide upon pulmonary hypertension rather than CT scan. So you should get Echo done. Overall, it's a mild increase in size and needs echo.

Hope this helps you and get back if you have any doubts.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Sagar Makode (29 minutes later)

Hi, thanks. i do have shortness of breath that worsened last week. i have asthma, live at a high altitude and use oxygen to sleep per a sleep study recommendation. Last week I came in through ER with shortness of breath. My ddimer was very elevated,so they did a cat scan. No clot but enlarged artery. Since last week, I have been having periods of hypoxia per my pulse ox of 86 percent. Hypoxia occurs with exertion and at rest. I have a cardio appt next week and a pulmonology appt in 3 weeks. i have always thought it was just my asthma, but this is something very different. Can these symptoms increase this rapidly?

Answered by Dr. Sagar Makode (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Pulmonary hypertension is a chronic problem

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Pulmonary hypertension is a chronic problem and symptoms would progress at least over a period of few months rather such shortly. Acute worsening may be due to worsening of asthma or may be some viral infection leading to further worsening over and above the baseline symptoms. Get your inhaler dose and frequency increased and see if it helps. Rule out any possibility of chest infection.

Since you live at high altitude some amount of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary artery enlargement may be there.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T