Atrial septal defect closure in a patient with "irreversible" pulmonary hypertensive arteriopathy

Int J Cardiol. 2006 Jun 7;110(1):104-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2005.05.062. Epub 2005 Jul 1.

Abstract

The presence of irreversible pulmonary hypertension in patients with atrial septal defect (ASD) is thought to preclude shunt closure. We report the case of a woman with plexiform pulmonary arteriopathy secondary to an ostium secundum ASD who was able to successfully undergo percutaneous shunt closure following therapy with chronic intravenous prostacyclin (Flolan). One year after closure, the patient was weaned off Flolan over a period of 7 months following the institution of oral Bosentan therapy. Our case illustrates how aggressive vasodilator therapy with prostaglandins may be capable of reducing pulmonary artery pressure and permitting shunt closure in a patient once considered to have "inoperable" pulmonary arteriopathy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antihypertensive Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Cardiac Catheterization
  • Epoprostenol / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / diagnosis
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / diagnosis
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Pulmonary Artery*

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Epoprostenol