Pulmonary Hypertension Program
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The Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension program was founded in 2005 by Dr. Juan Alejos. The Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension program at UCLA has been led by Dr. Juan Alejos since 2005. It was established to allow pediatric patients (up to the age of 21 years) with pulmonary hypertension access to dedicated specialists and cutting-edge therapies. Conditions ranging from idiopathic to familial to conditions associated with congenital heart disease are evaluated and treated. Adults with congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension are also treated and appropriately transitioned. These complex patients are treated by a multidisciplinary team composed of pediatric cardiologist/Adult congenital specialist Dr. Leigh Reardon and pediatric cardiologists Dr. Nancy Halnon and Dr. Majid Husain. The front-line support is provided by the Children Heart Center Nurses and primarily Brittany “Bee” Mitchell RN.
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What is Pulmonary Hypertension?
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a diagnosed when the blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs becomes abnormally high. This makes it harder for the heart—especially the right ventricle—to pump blood through the lungs, eventually leading to heart failure if untreated. PH can affect people of all ages, including children, and is often linked to other conditions like congenital heart disease (CHD), lung disease, or genetic syndromes.
In children, PH may present with symptoms like difficulty breathing, fatigue, poor weight gain, or fainting. In adults with CHD, PH can develop over time due to long-standing shunt lesions, leading to Eisenmenger syndrome, where blood flow reverses and causes cyanosis.
Signs and Symptoms
The most common symptom is shortness of breath, first when you exercise and later while at rest. Other symptoms are:
- Getting tired easily
- Fainting or dizziness
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Swelling in your legs
- Blue lips or skin
What Causes Pulmonary Hypertension?
Sometimes there is no known cause. When that is the case, the condition is called idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. If another medical condition is causing the problem, it is called secondary pulmonary hypertension. Conditions that can lead to pulmonary hypertension include the following:
- Heart disease
- Mitral stenosis or regurgitation
- Certain kinds of lung disease
- Obesity, especially with sleep apnea
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- High altitude
- Left-side heart failure
- Sickle cell anemia
What to expect at your Provider's Office
Your pulmonary hypertension team will perform a thorough evaluation including a comprehensive history and physical examination. Basic evaluation may include a chest x-ray and electrocardiogram. Diagnosis is typically made using echocardiography and further evaluated with cardiac catheterization, which measures pressures directly. Other testing may include a 6-minute walk test, advanced exercise testing or enhanced imaging such as computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Treatment Options
If pulmonary hypertension is determined to be secondary to another condition, it is essential to treat the primary condition. However, treatment of secondary pulmonary hypertension may also be required. Treatment depends on the cause and severity, and includes oxygen, diuretics, and pulmonary vasodilator medications. Our team specializes in aggressive medical management and utilizes the latest cutting-edge treatments for pulmonary hypertension including access to clinical trials of the newest medicines for PH.
The UCLA Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Program offers patients access to cutting-edge medications and therapies that are often unavailable through standard treatment pathways. By participating in ongoing clinical trials, individuals benefit from the latest advances in medical science, guided by a team of expert clinicians and researchers. This approach not only provides promising options for those with challenging or rare conditions but also contributes to the global advancement of healthcare by shaping the future of care for children with pulmonary hypertension. Through this commitment to research and innovation, our program ensures that patients receive the most up-to-date and promising treatment options, tailored to their unique needs.
Early recognition and a team-based approach are essential. With proper care, many patients can lead improved and longer lives, though PH remains a progressive and potentially life-threatening disease.
