Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension

Editor’s Memo

Another Milestone for PHA Mission to Promote Awareness

With this third issue of Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension in 2007, I must first recognize the enormous success of the Pulmonary Hypertension Resource Network Symposium held in Crystal City, Virginia this October. Attendance was a record 400+ (up from 60 in 2003), and the representation was far-reaching, with attendees and participants from Oregon to Washington, DC, and Canada to Texas. This clearly reflects the tremendous interest in this growing field and speaks to the success of PHA in its mission to promote pulmonary hypertension awareness.

Associate Editor Erika Berman Rosenzweig, MD, has taken the role of Lead Editor of this issue and with Editorial Board member Kristin Highland, MD, has put together a comprehensive review of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) related to congenital heart disease (CHD), with three key pieces focused on CHD. Dr Ingram Schulze-Neick provides an overview of pulmonary vascular disease in CHD, while Dr Michael Landzberg covers emerging medical therapies, and Drs Konstantinos Dimopoulos and Michael Gatzoulis teach us about how to evaluate operability in adults with CHD, as well as the role of pretreatment with targeted PAH therapy. A specialist roundtable discussion is a highlight of this issue, as it covers the practical aspects of treating patients with CHD and associated PAH. Dr Berman Rosenzweig and her contributors are to be congratulated for their efforts in producing such a wonderful issue of Advances.

Ronald J. Oudiz, MD
Editor-in-Chief

Guest Editor’s Commentary

Focusing on Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease

This issue of Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension focuses on the growing population of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) and associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Although progress in diagnostics and surgical intervention has dramatically decreased the incidence of classic Eisenmenger syndrome in the Western world, these advances have led to a rapidly growing number of adults with CHD and associated PAH.

In this journal edition, the authors highlight some of the considerations and challenges specific to the adult with PAH associated with CHD. Admittedly, there are still more questions than answers for these patients; the authors hope to bring to light some of the important issues that require further study.

Erika Berman Rosenzweig, MD
Guest Editor
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (in Medicine) Division of Pediatric Cardiology Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons New York, New York