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Portopulmonary hypertension in children: a rare but potentially lethal and under-recognized disease
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Portopulmonary hypertension in children: a rare but potentially lethal and under-recognized disease

Jennifer Tingo, Erika B. Rosenzweig, Steven Lobritto and Usha S. Krishnan
Pulmonary circulation, v 7(3), pp 712-718
01 Jul 2017
PMID: 28704131
url
https://doi.org/10.1177/2045893217723594View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)CC BY-NC V4.0 Open

Abstract

Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems Cardiovascular System & Cardiology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Respiratory System Science & Technology
Portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) is defined by the combination of portal hypertension and precapillary pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Very little is known about this process in pediatric patients but prognosis is generally poor. We review our institutional experience and report on five patients with pediatric PoPH. The median age of PoPH diagnosis was six years and PAH was 14 years. PAH diagnosis was made by echocardiogram in all patients, four of whom also had cardiac catheterization. The median mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) was 48.5mmHg (interquartile range [IQR]=46-60) with a median pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRi) of 9 WU*M-2 (IQR=8-22). All were acute pulmonary vasodilator testing non-responsive. All patients received targeted therapies. Three of five patients (60%) died despite an evidence-based approach to care. Of those who died, timing from the PoPH diagnosis to death ranged from three days to three years. Based upon our limited experience, PoPH is a disorder with significant mortality in childhood and challenges in treatment. Future research, focused on screening and early targeted treatment strategies, may alter the current dismal prognosis for these children.

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12 citations in Scopus

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Respiratory System
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