[Acute dyspnea: pulmonary causes].

Acute shortness of breath is a common symptom of a variety of cardiac or pulmonary diseases. Prompt diagnosis of the underlying disease is a prerequisite for the initiation of appropriate therapeutic measures. Possible causes of dyspnea can be classified pathophysiologically as obstructive or restrictive ventilatory disorders, pulmonary vascular diseases and abnormal central regulation of breathing. In most cases the diagnosis can be suspected from an accurate history and thorough clinical workup, and confirmed by simple additional diagnostic procedures.