Tuberc Respir Dis.  1996 Apr;43(2):274-279.

A case of Pulmonary Veno-occlusive Disease

• Cho JY
• Lee SY
• Lee SH
• Suh JK
• Shim JJ
• In KH
• Kang KH
• Yoo SH
• Kim KT

Abstract

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease is a rare cause of pulmonary hypertension in which the primary abnormality is obliterative obstruction of pulmonary veins, especially venules. Clinicaly, we should suspect this disease in the case of congestive cardiac failure with pulmonary hypertension, chronic interstitial pulmonary edema, and normal or elevated wedge pressure on cardiac catheterization. We experience a case of pulmonary hypertension due to pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. A 55-years -old woman developed progressive dry cough and dyspnea for 3 months. Physical examination showed normal heart sounds, diffuse crackles in the whole lung fields. The liver was not palpable and pitting edema was absent. The diagnosis was made by chest HRCT, 2-D echocardiography, normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure on cardiac catheterization, and confirmed by thoracoscopic lung biopsy. This patient was treated with vasodilator(calcium antagonist) and with mild symptomatic improvement. We reported a case of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease with review of literatures.

Keyword

Pulmonary hypertension; Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac Catheters
Cough
Diagnosis
Dyspnea
Echocardiography
Edema
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)
Female
Heart Failure
Heart Sounds
Humans
Hypertension, Pulmonary
Liver
Lung
Physical Examination
Pulmonary Edema
Pulmonary Veins
Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease*
Pulmonary Wedge Pressure
Respiratory Sounds
Thorax
Venules
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)