Congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension.

Abstract

Many patients with congenital heart disease and systemic-to-pulmonary shunts develop pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), particularly if the cardiac defect is left unrepaired. A persistent increase in pulmonary blood flow may lead to obstructive arteriopathy and increased pulmonary vascular resistance, a condition that can lead to reversal of shunt and cyanosis (Eisenmenger syndrome). Cardiac catheterization is crucial to confirm diagnosis and facilitate treatment. Bosentan is the only medication to date to be compared with placebo in a randomized controlled trial specifically targeting congenital heart disease-associated PAH. Lung transplantation with repair of the cardiac defect or combined heart-lung transplantation is reserved for recalcitrant cases.

• Authors: Vedant Gupta, Adriano R Tonelli, Richard A Krasuski
• Journal: Heart failure clinics (Heart Fail Clin) Vol. 8 Issue 3 Pg. 427-45 (Jul 2012) ISSN: 1551-7136 [Print] United States
• PMID: 22748904 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Arrhythmias, Cardiac
• Cardiac Catheterization
• Exercise Test
• Exercise Tolerance
• Heart Defects, Congenital (complications, drug therapy, pathology)
• Hemoptysis
• Humans
• Hypertension, Pulmonary (drug therapy, etiology, pathology)
• Oxygen Inhalation Therapy
• Pulmonary Embolism
• Risk Factors