Pulmonary hypertension laboratory tests

Assistant Editor(s)-in-Chief:  Ralph Matar,

Labs:
Systemic sclerosis is very important to exclude in pulmonary hypertension because this systemic disease has a very high prevalence of pulmonary arterial hypertension.Anti-Scl-70, anti-centromere,and U3-RNP are typically positive.
 * Biochemistry,hematology and Thyroid function tests are required in all patients with pulmonary hypertension.(Important for diagnosis of chronic hemolytic anemia,myeloproliferative disorders,thyroid disorders chronic renal failure on dialysis).
 * Serologic testing to detect Connective tissue diseases(systemic sclerosis), HIV and Hepatitis.
 * Liver function tests to exclude portal hypertension.
 * Both ANP and BNP have been shown to correlate with the survival in Idiopathic Pulmonary Hypertension,However NT-proBNP appears to be an independant predictor of survival and correlates with RV dysfunction.
 * Serum uric acid: reflects impaired oxidative metabolism of ischemic peripheral tissues..