From:  Cardiopulmonary interaction during spontaneous breathing and mechanical ventilation

 Hemodynamic definitions of PH.

DefinitionHaemodynamic characteristics
PHmPAP >20 mmHg
Pre-capillary PHmPAP >20 mmHg
PAWP ≤15 mmHg
PVR >2 WU
IpcPHmPAP >20 mmHg
PAWP >15 mmHg
PVR ≤2 WU
CpcPHmPAP >20 mmHg
PAWP >15 mmHg
PVR >2 WU
Exercise PHmPAP/CO slope between rest and exercise >3 mmHg/L/min

CO: cardiac output; CpcPH: combined post- and precapillary pulmonary hypertension; IpcPH: isolated postcapillary pulmonary hypertension; mPAP: mean pulmonary arterial pressure; PAWP: pulmonary arterial wedge pressure; PH: pulmonary hypertension; PVR: pulmonary vascular resistance; WU: Wood units. Some patients present with elevated mPAP (> 20 mmHg) but low PVR (≤ 2 WU) and low PAWP (≤ 15 mmHg); this haemodynamic condition may be described by the term ‘unclassified PH’. Reprint with permission form [26]. © European Respiratory Society.