Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a complex disorder that manifests as abnormally high blood pressure in the vasculature of the lungs. The chronic structural and mechanical changes in the proximal pulmonary artery (PA) associated with PH include smooth muscle cell hypertrophy and proliferation, accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) protein and increased stiffness1–4. Recent evidence has shown that conduit PA stiffness is a strong predictor of mortality in pulmonary arterial hypertension5,6. This suggests a potential association between large PA biomechanics and right ventricle failure.
Volume Subject Area:
Vascular Mechanics
Topics:
Biomechanics,
Blood,
Failure,
Lung,
Mechanical properties,
Muscle,
Pressure,
Proteins,
Pulmonary artery,
Stiffness
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Copyright © 2012 by ASME
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