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. 2019 Dec;21(Suppl K):K37-K45.
doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/suz221. Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension populations of special interest: portopulmonary hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease

Laurent Savale  1   2   3 , Alessandra Manes  4
Affiliations

Pulmonary arterial hypertension populations of special interest: portopulmonary hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease

Laurent Savale et al. Eur Heart J Suppl. 2019 Dec.

Abstract

Guidelines exist for management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but information is limited for certain patient subgroups, including adults with portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) or with PAH associated with congenital heart disease (PAH-CHD). This article discusses screening, clinical management, and prognosis in PoPH and PAH-CHD and, as such, considers the most recent clinical data and expert advice. A multidisciplinary consultation and follow-up by specialists are crucial for management of both PoPH and PAH-CHD, but each condition presents with unique challenges. Development of PoPH most commonly occurs among patients with liver cirrhosis. Initially, patients may be asymptomatic for PoPH and, if untreated, survival with PoPH is generally worse than with idiopathic PAH (IPAH), so early identification with screening is crucial. PoPH can be managed with PAH-specific pharmacological therapy, and resolution is possible in some patients with liver transplantation. With PAH-CHD, survival rates are typically higher than with IPAH but vary across the four subtypes: Eisenmenger syndrome, systemic-to-pulmonary shunts, small cardiac defects, and corrected defects. Screening is also crucial and, in patients who undergo correction of CHD, the presence of PAH should be assessed immediately after repair and throughout their long-term follow-up, with frequency of assessments determined by the patient's characteristics at the time of correction. Early screening for PAH in patients with portal hypertension or CHD, and multidisciplinary management of PoPH or PAH-CHD are important for the best patient outcomes.

Keywords: Congenital heart disease; Liver transplant; Portopulmonary hypertension; Pulmonary arterial hypertension.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Clinical subgroups of pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease.,aWith surgery or intravascular percutaneous procedure. bThe size applies to adult patients. However, in adults, the diameter may be insufficient to define the haemodynamic relevance of the defect; the pressure gradient, the shunt size and direction, and the pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio should be considered. CHD, congenital heart disease; PAH, pulmonary arterial hypertension; PVR, pulmonary vascular resistance; VSD, ventricular septal defect. Reproduced from Gatzoulis et al. with permission from Elsevier.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Evolution of pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease subgroup B. CHD, congenital heart disease; PAH, pulmonary arterial hypertension; PVD, pulmonary vascular disease; V/P, volume/pressure; VSD, ventricular septal defect. Reproduced from Gatzoulis et al. with permission from Elsevier.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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