Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease with average median survival rate about 3 years from the establishment of the diagnosis, except for PAH associated with congenital heart diseases. Diagnosis and management of PAH concentrate in the dedicated centres (reference centres, centres of expertise). The purpose of a reference centre is to undertake assessment and investigation of all causes of pulmonary hypertension, PAH-specific drug therapy, cooperation with other healthcare specialist, and to undertake research and education. In general, high volume centres achieve best outcomes, because of effective concentration of the specific experience and skills needed for rare disease management.
The paper brings brief characteristic of the reference centre for PAH according the guideline of European Society of Cardiology as well as own experience in this field.