Risk factors for pulmonary arterial hypertension

Several risk factors for pulmonary arterial hypertension have been recognized including drugs and toxins, demographic and medical conditions, and diseases. Conclusions regarding the causal relationship between risk factors and the development of pulmonary hypertension relate to the magnitude of the association, the temporality of the association, and consistency of the observations. The exact mechanism(s) by which the risk factors produce pulmonary hypertension has not been established yet. Given the fact that the absolute risk is generally low, factors of individual susceptibility are likely to play an important role.