Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) affects the heart and lungs. It is characterized by abnormally high blood pressure (hypertension) in the pulmonary artery, the blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath (dyspnea) during exercise and fainting spells. The symptoms tend to get worse over time and may include dizziness, swelling (edema) of the ankles or legs, chest pain, and a racing pulse. Some cases of PAH are due to genetic changes in the BMPR2 gene and inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Most cases of PAH occur in individuals with no family history of the disorder. When PAH is inherited from an affected relative it is called “familial” PAH. Cases with no identifiable cause may be referred to as “idiopathic” PAH. PAH can also occur secondary to underlying conditions such as connective tissue diseases, HIV infection, chronic hemolytic anemia, and congenital heart disease. PAH can also be induced by certain drugs and toxins. Diagnosis is based on the symptoms, clinical examination, and specialized testing.

Yes. It is possible for a biological parent to pass down genetic mutations that cause or increase the chances of getting this disease to their child. This is known as inheritance. Knowing whether other family members have previously had this disease, also known as family health history, can be very important information for your medical team.

There are multiple ways, or patterns, a disease can be inherited depending on the gene(s) involved. Based on GARD’s current data, this disease can be inherited in the following pattern(s):

Autosomal Dominant: Autosomal means the gene involved is located on one of the numbered chromosomes. Dominant means that a child only needs to inherit one copy of the mutated gene, from either biological parent, to be affected by the disease.

People affected by an autosomal dominant disease have a 50% chance of passing on the mutated gene to their biological child.