J Korean Soc Echocardiogr.  2003 Jun;11(1):46-51.

A Case of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Diagnosed in Puerperium

• Jung SH
• Cho YK
• Lee HY
• Kim YL
• Kim IJ
• Lim SW
• Cha DH
• Lee SJ

Abstract

Primary pulmonary hypertension is a condition characterized by sustained elevations of pulmonary artery pressure without demonstrable cause. It is incurable and progressive clinical entity. The incidence has been estimated at approximately 1 to 2 cases per million people in the general population. The maternal mortality of primary pulonary hypertension in pregnancy was said to be 30% and the first month after delivery represents the period of highest risk. We experienced a 27-year-old women with primary pulmonary hypertension diagnosed in postpartum period. She was transferred from the department of obstetrics to internal medicine due to dyspnea on the first day of postpartum. She was diagnosed by perfusion lung scan, chest CT and confirmed by echocardiography. This diagnosis were supported by findings of pulmonary angiogram and cardiac catheterization. Initially she was treated with diuretics, aspirin and anticoagulant therapy, and as a result of the treatment, her symptoms improved. However after 8months has elapsed, exertional dyspnea was worsening. Thus she was treated with calcium channel blocker, aspirin and diuretics and was followed at 1 month interval on the outpatient clinics.

Keyword

Primary pulmonary hypertension; Pregnancy; Puerperium; Highest maternal mortality

MeSH Terms

Adult
Ambulatory Care Facilities
Aspirin
Calcium Channels
Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac Catheters
Diagnosis
Diuretics
Dyspnea
Echocardiography
Female
Humans
Hypertension
Hypertension, Pulmonary*
Incidence
Internal Medicine
Lung
Maternal Mortality
Obstetrics
Perfusion
Postpartum Period*
Pregnancy
Pulmonary Artery
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Aspirin
Calcium Channels
Diuretics