RVH in adults is commonly caused by an acquired disease that leads to cor pulmonale due to pulmonary artery hypertension. Chronic pulmonary hypertension, in turn, is commonly caused by COPD, interstitial lung diseases, and sleep apnea. Patient symptoms are not directly caused by the RVH initially but rather by pulmonary hypertension.  

Initially, pulmonary hypertension results in an inability to adequately increase cardiac output during exercise. This manifests as exertional chest pain, syncope, peripheral edema, dyspnea, lethargy, fatigue, anorexia, and/or right upper abdominal pain. As cor pulmonale progresses, right ventricular heart failure develops with associated symptoms.

Right Ventricular Hypertrophy