Unexplained severe pulmonary hypertension in the older age group.

Two cases of unexplained severe pulmonary hypertension were seen in the older age group. Although classified as primary pulmonary hypertension, the clinical course of these patients was very unusual because of their age and relatively long duration of diseases. The long period of follow-up allowed assessment of both the difficulties of making a definite diagnosis of primary pulmonary hypertension in the older age group and the noninvasive methods which were particularly helpful. Making the diagnosis of primary pulmonary hypertension in the older age group is important because there are now drugs which can ameliorate the severity of pulmonary hypertension.