1. Classification matters before treatment
Charité’s pulmonary-hypertension clinic states that it evaluates and treats all forms of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vascular disease. A useful second opinion should clarify the suspected group, the underlying disease and whether confirmatory invasive hemodynamic testing is required.
2. Echocardiography is an important screening tool, not the whole work-up
An echocardiogram can raise suspicion of pulmonary hypertension and show right-heart effects, but specialist evaluation may also involve lung-function testing, exercise testing, imaging, laboratory studies and—when indicated—right-heart catheterization.
3. Pulmonary hypertension can arise from very different diseases
Possible pathways include pulmonary arterial hypertension, chronic lung disease, left-heart disease, chronic thromboembolic disease and rarer conditions. Treatment that is appropriate for one category may be ineffective or harmful in another, so self-selecting a pulmonary vasodilator is not appropriate.
4. Prepare the data that shows severity and trajectory
A specialist center needs enough information to judge symptoms, right-heart function and the likely cause.
- Echocardiography reports and images if available
- Right-heart catheterization report if already performed
- CT pulmonary angiography or V/Q scan results when relevant
- Pulmonary-function tests and oxygen requirement
- 6-minute-walk or cardiopulmonary exercise testing
- Current pulmonary-hypertension and heart/lung medicines
5. Advanced care can include intervention or surgery in selected patients
Charité describes medication, interventional and, when medically warranted, surgical pathways within its pulmonary-hypertension service. The exact route depends on the disease category and should be decided in a specialist center.
Official and primary sources
Sources last checked 2026-09-21.