Risk stratification in PAH.

[No abstract. Showing first paragraph of article] Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a chronic disease of the pulmonary vasculature characterized by progressive narrowing of the pulmonary arteries leading to increased  pulmonary vascular resistance, right heart failure, and ultimately premature death. There has been a significant improvement in the available medical therapeutic options  in this field that have impacted the short-term survival and morbidity in these patients. However, the median survival post-diagnosis remains unacceptable at 7 years. Physicians’ ability to predict PAH disease progression and risk allows them to determine the patient’s prognosis, make informed adjustments to therapy, and monitor his or her response to therapy . If widely adopted, risk prediction can enhance the consistency of treatment approaches and improve the timeliness of referral for lung transplantation. This approach should lead optimal, directed care that ultimately reduces morbidity and improves mortality in patients with PAH.