Children with pediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH) – a rare and often progressive disease resulting in high pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs – receive care from our expert team at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.

There are different forms of PH; it may be genetic or acquired. It can affect children with congenital heart defects, infants with chronic lung disease and may be secondary to other conditions such as sleep apnea, blood clots, autoimmune disorders and liver disease. We treat all types of pulmonary hypertension in our program. 

Why Choose Johns Hopkins All Children’s

Our multidisciplinary care team includes pediatric cardiologists and pulmonologists who focus on pulmonary hypertension, interventional cardiology, neonatology and specialized nurses and pharmacists. This team works together to diagnose and treat patients, forming comprehensive, coordinated care plans.

The services we offer include:

• Multidisciplinary Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic
• Comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis
• Individualized treatment plans
• Advanced imaging
• Cardiac catheterization
• Exercise stress tests
• Six-minute walk tests
• Cardiovascular surgery
• Active participation in clinical trials and research

Meet Our Pulmonary Hypertension Team

What to Expect

Pulmonary hypertension is most often initially diagnosed with an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart).

Cardiac catheterization, where a thin tube catheter is guided to directly determine pressures and measure blood flow may be needed as well. This can help to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity of pulmonary hypertension. Cardiac catheterization is performed by the expert team in our Interventional Cardiology program.

If appropriate depending on your child’s age, condition and other factors, we may also recommend an exercise stress test or other tests.

Treatment and services for pulmonary hypertension

We work to treat the underlying condition that may be causing pulmonary hypertension, such as a congenital heart defect, lung disease or other condition. We work with the appropriate specialists needed for your child’s condition, such as cardiology and pulmonology.

Therapies to treat pulmonary hypertension are used to lower pressure in the lungs and help blood flow more easily. This may include:

• Oxygen to help with breathing issues and relax the arteries in the lungs
• Medications to help promote dilation of blood vessels in the lungs
• Anticoagulants to reduce clotting
• Diuretics to reduce fluid in the body and help the heart work better
• Additional medications to improve heart function and blood flow

Our multidisciplinary team provides continuity of care and seamless transition between inpatient and outpatient care and includes a pulmonary hypertension nurse coordinator who helps facilitate case management.

Resources for families

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association offers a number of helpful resources for families, including living with pediatric PH, school and PH, and information specific to teens and young adults. Learn more.