Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. Fatal progression of pulmonary hypertension despite steroid-induced remission of interstitial pneumonitis

Am Rev Respir Dis. 1991 May;143(5 Pt 1):1130-3. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm/143.5_Pt_1.1130.

Abstract

This report describes a 28-yr-old patient with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD). She presented with pulmonary hypertension, hypoxemia, and interstitial pneumonitis. We report the discordance between the response of her hypoxemia and interstitial pneumonitis, which resolved with corticosteroid therapy, and her progressive pulmonary hypertension, which caused fatal right heart failure. This report emphasizes that the radiographic interstitial shadowing of PVOD may be caused by either (1) an inflammatory interstitial pneumonitis (which may be responsive to anti-inflammatory therapy) or (2) interstitial pulmonary edema, or both.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / etiology
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology*
  • Lung / pathology*
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use*
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / drug therapy*
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / etiology
  • Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease / complications*
  • Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease / pathology

Substances

  • Prednisone