Oral vs IV corticosteroids for in-hospital treatment of COPD exacerbations.

the prevalence of the disease (pretest probability) in the study population. Current data report the presence of Ex-PHtn in COPD, heart transplantation, susceptibility to high-altitude pulmonary edema, congenital heart disease, thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, scleroderma, and relatives of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, the actual prevalence and clinical value (early stage disease?) of Ex-PHtn in the wide spectrum of conditions involving the cardiorespiratory system remain not fully explored.1–4,6,8–11 4. Well-designed longitudinal studies are warranted to investigate the natural history of pulmonary hypertension and whether preclinical treatment can prevent the development of more severe forms of pulmonary vascular disease in susceptible persons. Ex-PHtn remains a fascinating clinical condition and Execho a versatile tool “to look beyond the scene” of otherwise unexplained effort dyspnea.