Hi Dianne. I was diagnosed by R&LHC performed by a cardiologist in April of 2020 and was told I have moderate PH. In June of 2022 I saw a PH specialist and she is a pulmonologist who performed a RHC and determined that I actually have moderate idiopathic PAH. Since that time I have been placed on Adempas and Opsumit. I have echocardiograms every 6 months as well as labs and exercise testing, but I have not had another RHC. I am stable at this time but if things change I expect it would be ordered. Best wishes.
It will completely vary from patient to patient and also doctor to doctor. Also if you have a cardioMEMs implanted which can eliminate the need for many RHCs. But I would say that most of the patients I personally know will have an RHC roughly every 6 months after the diagnostic phase is over. Then again, I had 4 heart caths within a 7 or 8 month period: #1 bi-heart cath when I was symptomatic of several things and having multiple cardiac issues #2 RHC to diagnose PH #3 RHC to implant the cardioMEMs #4 RHC to re-do the wedge pressure testing and also have a fluid challenge done to confirm classification diagnosis.
And I haven't had one since.
Right heart catheterization (RHC) is typically performed at diagnosis and during follow-up appointments. The frequency depends on your individual condition and treatment plan. RHC is an important tool that helps doctors:
• Assess PAH severity
• Monitor disease progression
• Evaluate how well treatments are working
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