Heart: Right Ventricular Hypertrophy

Right ventricular hypertrophyRight Ventricular Hypertrophy Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) is a medical condition in which the muscle mass of the heart's right ventricle enlarges due to prolonged abnormally high pressure when pumping blood through the lungs. If you have RVH, you may have symptoms related to high blood pressure in the lungs, such as chest pain during physical activity, swelling in the limbs, fainting during exertion, and pain in the upper right side of the abdomen caused by liver congestion (passive hepatic congestion). The management of RVH typically includes diuretics (to remove excess fluid), oxygen therapy, and anticoagulants (to prevent blood clot formation). The prognosis for individuals with RVH depends on the underlying cause and the severity of the pulmonary hypertension. - Source - Read more >> (RVH) is a condition in which the muscle of the heart’s right ventricle thickens due to chronic abnormally high pressure as it pumps blood through the lungs. If left untreated, it leads to heart failure and death.

Patients suffering from pulmonary hypertensionPulmonary Hypertension (PH) High pressure in the blood vessels leading from the heart to the lungs is called pulmonary hypertension. The arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart are affected by pulmonary hypertension. If untreated, the right side of the heart will weaken over time, eventually leading to heart failure and death. The WHO has defined five distinct groups of pulmonary hypertension, each with a different cause. CTEPH is a form of PH (WHO group 4). - References: mayoclinic.org and cdc.gov (PHPulmonary Hypertension (PH) High pressure in the blood vessels leading from the heart to the lungs is called pulmonary hypertension. The arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart are affected by pulmonary hypertension. If untreated, the right side of the heart will weaken over time, eventually leading to heart failure and death. The WHO has defined five distinct groups of pulmonary hypertension, each with a different cause. CTEPH is a form of PH (WHO group 4). - References: mayoclinic.org and cdc.gov) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertensionChronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension CTEPH is short for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, a rare form of high blood pressure in the lungs caused by blood clots or narrowed blood vessels. High blood pressure in the lungs is often also called pulmonary hypertension. (CTEPHChronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension CTEPH is short for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, a rare form of high blood pressure in the lungs caused by blood clots or narrowed blood vessels. High blood pressure in the lungs is often also called pulmonary hypertension.) will eventually be confronted with some degree of right ventricular hypertrophy. It’s in the nature of the beast.

[Learn about the basic structure of the heart in this post.]

Causes of RVH

There are several possible causes of RVH. A prominent cause is chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). This post focuses on CTEPH driving right ventricular hypertrophy.

In CTEPH, blood clots clog the arteries in the lungs. The right side of the heart has to work extra hard to push blood through the blockages, resulting in abnormally high pressure (pulmonary hypertension). This damages the heart over time, leading to right ventricular hypertrophy and more.

Symptoms

You may have symptoms such as shortness of breath (dyspnea), chest pain or fainting (syncope) with physical activity, swelling in the limbs (edema), and pain in the upper right of the abdomen caused by liver congestion (passive hepatic congestion).

If you have any of these symptoms, always consult your healthcare provider and have them check for pulmonary hypertension regardless of what they say may be the cause of your discomfort. Testing for pulmonary hypertension is simple. It can initially be done through an echocardiogram (echo) [1, 2, 3, 4].

Here is why: CTEPH is often misdiagnosed due to the presence of unclear symptoms. Several of the listed symptoms can be associated with other conditions [2, 3]. The sooner you start treatment for pulmonary hypertension/CTEPH, the better for your heart. It’s crucial for your survival [4].

Management of RVH

The management of right ventricular hypertrophy depends on the underlying cause but typically includes:

• Diuretics (to remove excess fluid).
• Oxygen therapy.
• Anticoagulants (to prevent blood clot formation).

Prognosis for RVH patients

The prognosis for individuals with RVH depends on the underlying cause and the damage already done to your heart. 

CTEPH is the only form of pulmonary hypertension that can be cured [3, 5]. With proper treatment, the right ventricle may return to a healthier state (reverse remodeling) [5].

Takeaway

Right ventricular hypertrophy leads to death if the underlying cause is left untreated. To protect your heart, it’s important to start treatment as early as possible. If you experience any of the above symptoms, see your doctor and insist on being evaluated for pulmonary hypertension, regardless of the suspected cause of your symptoms. Early diagnosis of CTEPH is critical for your survival.