• Arterial blood gas studies. Blood is taken from an artery and analyzed for the amount of gases present, particularly oxygen.

  • Right-heart cardiac catheterization. A catheter is passed into the right ventricle of the heart and pulmonary artery, where it is used to obtain a precise measure of blood pressure and blood flow in those areas. The physician will also measure and evaluate the pumping ability of the right side of the heart. This test may be performed multiple times during treatment of confirmed pulmonary hypertension.

  • Right-sided hypertrophy (or inflation of the right ventricle) is a common complication of pulmonary hypertension. This may lead to elevated venous pressure, which occurs when the blood pressure in the veins throughout the body is raised.

  • Chest x-ray. This imaging test offers the physician a picture of the general size, shape and structure of the heart and lungs. One of the things the physician will check is whether the right side of the heart is enlarged.

  • Echocardiogram of the heart and major arteries. This test uses sound waves to track the structure and function of the heart. A moving image of the patient’s beating heart is played on a monitor, where a physician can study the heart’s thickness, size and function. The image also shows the motion pattern and structure of the four heart valves, revealing any potential leakage (regurgitation). A specific type of echocardiogram, called a Doppler ultrasound is sometimes used to determine pulmonary artery pressure.

  • Electrocardiogram (EKG). A test that measures the heart’s electrical activity. It is designed to detect any abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias), which may be signs that the heart or parts of the heart are overly stressed.

  • Perfusion lung scan. A test used to show the pattern of blood flow in the lung. The test involves the injection of a radiopharmaceutical into an arm vein before scanning the lung with a gamma camera. In the resulting picture, any sections of the lung in which blood is being restricted will show up as blank spaces. The test will also detect any large blood clots in the lungs.

  • Pulmonary angiogram. A test used to measure circulation in the lungs and to visualize clots in the lung on x-rays. The test involves the insertion of a thin catheter into the pulmonary artery through which an iodine dye is injected. The physician can then see an image of any blood clots present in the lung, and track the circulation of blood through the lung's blood vessels.

  • Pulmonary function test. A painless test in which the patient blows into a special device (a spirometer) that measures and evaluates how well the lungs are functioning.