Unit of Pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is a disease of the small pulmonary arteries in which the diameter of the blood vessels progressively decreases because the wall thickness increases (vasoconstriction). This causes pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) to increase, leading to right ventricular failure and death.

The Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Unit at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona is a recognized local, national and international reference centre in the management of this complex disease. PH presents clinical variants with different prognoses, ranging from prevalent forms, such as those associated with cardiac and respiratory diseases, to rare and aggressive forms, such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic PH (CTEPH). The unit offers a multidisciplinary and specialized approach, which is necessary due to the diagnostic and therapeutic complexity of these cases.

Since the first catheterization for the diagnosis of a case of pulmonary arterial hypertension in 1996, the PH Unit has grown significantly to become a Functional Unit in 2018, with an organizational structure that includes 53 professionals from multiple disciplines. In addition, Hospital Clínic is one of the centres designated as a CSUR (Centre, Department and Reference Unit) in Spain for the treatment of complex PH and is part of the European Reference Network on Rare Respiratory Diseases (ERN-LUNG), ensuring its leadership and international recognition in the care of rare respiratory diseases.

The unit's care activities are oriented towards comprehensive patient care, from diagnosis to follow-up, with outpatient services, day hospital, haemodynamic studies and hospitalization. The results in terms of quality of care are remarkable, with high survival rates and low complication rates compared to other centres. Furthermore, the unit carefully manages waiting times, which is reflected in its commitment to excellence and accessibility.

In addition to its care function, the unit is actively involved in teaching and research. It provides training for medical and nursing students, as well as organizing specialized programmes and collaborating in numerous clinical trials. Research, both basic and translational, is fundamental to its work, with high-impact projects and international collaboration. The mission of the Pulmonary Hypertension Unit is to be a benchmark of excellence in pulmonary hypertension treatment, training and research, always focused on the well-being and improved quality of life of its patients.