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Causes and Classifications of PAH
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Causes of PAH
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is divided into different groups based on its causes and treatment options. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is referred to as WHO Group 1.
Some known causes of PAH (Group 1) include
- Family history of PAH (familial or heritable PAH)
- Heart disease
- Genetic mutations
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Certain drugs and toxins
- Connective tissue disease (CTD), such as scleroderma
- Liver disease
Sometimes no cause can be identified. This type of PAH is called idiopathic PAH.
Classifications of PAH
The classifications of PAH (Group 1) are as follows:
- Idiopathic PAH (no known cause)
- Heritable PAH (family history)
- Drug- and toxin-induced PAH
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Associated PAH (APAH) associated with an underlying disease or condition such as
- Connective tissue diseases (CTD), primarily scleroderma
- HIV infection
- Portal hypertension (a type of PAH caused by complications of liver disease)
- Congenital heart disease (heart diseases present at birth)
- Schistosomiasis (a disease caused by a parasite)
Next: Learn How PAH Is Diagnosed
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR TYVASO
- Tyvaso is breathed in (inhalable) through your mouth into your lungs. Tyvaso should only be used with the Tyvaso Inhalation System.
Before you take Tyvaso, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- Have a lung disease (such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)).
- Have a lung infection.
- Have liver or kidney problems, as your ability to tolerate Tyvaso may be affected.
- Have low blood pressure, as Tyvaso may cause symptomatic hypotension (low blood pressure).
- Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Tyvaso will harm your unborn baby. Women who can become pregnant should use effective birth control while taking Tyvaso.
- Are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. It is not known if Tyvaso passes into your breast milk.
It is important to tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you may be taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, as they may affect your use of Tyvaso by increasing the risk of side effects or decreasing effectiveness. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take any of these medicines:
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Medicines that decrease blood clotting such as warfarin or heparin, as Tyvaso reduces the ability of your
blood to clot (coagulate), and increases your risk for bleeding if you are taking blood thinners
(anticoagulants).
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Diuretics (water pills), antihypertensives (medications used to treat high blood pressure or heart
disease), or other vasodilators (medications that lower blood pressure), as Tyvaso may increase your
risk for hypotension (low blood pressure).
-
Gemfibrozil such as Lopid (for high cholesterol) or rifampin such as Rimactane, Rifadin, Rifamate or
Rifater (for infection), as your Tyvaso dosage may need adjustment.
The most common side effects of Tyvaso are coughing, headache, throat irritation and pain, nausea, reddening of the face and neck (flushing), and fainting or loss of consciousness. These are not all the possible side effects of Tyvaso. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effects that bother you or do not go away. Your healthcare provider may be able to help you manage the side effects.
INDICATION
Tyvaso is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (WHO Group 1), which is high blood pressure in the arteries of your lungs. Tyvaso can improve exercise ability in people who also take bosentan (an endothelin receptor antagonist, (ERA)) or sildenafil (a phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor). Your ability to do exercise decreases 4 hours after taking Tyvaso.
The effects of Tyvaso are unknown in patients under 18 years of age.
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Please see the Full Prescribing Information, Patient Package Insert, and the Tyvaso Inhalation System Instructions for Use manual.
For additional information about Tyvaso, visit www.tyvaso.com or call 1-877-UNITHER (1-877-864- 8437).
Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
This information is provided for an informational purpose and is not intended as treatment advice. Patients should consult a healthcare professional for treatment advice.
