Basic and Clinical Sciences (BCSE) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Group 2 pulmonary hypertension (PH) is primarily associated with left heart disease. This classification of pulmonary hypertension occurs as a result of elevated pressures in the left atrium and subsequent back pressure into the pulmonary circulation. Conditions that can lead to this include various forms of heart failure, particularly those that manifest with left ventricular dysfunction or valvular heart disease.

In this context, this type of pulmonary hypertension is characterized by hemodynamic changes stemming from compromised left heart function, which ultimately leads to pulmonary vascular remodeling and increased pulmonary artery pressures. Thus, the defining characteristic of group 2 PH is indeed the involvement of left heart disease.

The other options pertain to different categories of pulmonary hypertension. For example, group 1 is related to pulmonary arterial hypertension itself, which is often due to idiopathic causes or genetic factors. Options involving lung disease and chronic thromboembolic conditions belong to groups 3 and 4, respectively, emphasizing that each group of pulmonary hypertension has distinct underlying mechanisms that do not center on left heart dysfunction.