Danger of vasodilator therapy for pulmonary hypertension in patent foramen ovale.
A 23-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus was found to have severe pulmonary hypertension with secondary patency of the foramen ovale. Infusion of hydralazine increased the basal right-to-left shunt and resulted in a dramatic fall in arterial oxygen pressure, with subsequent irreversible cardiovascular collapse. Vasodilator therapy appears to be hazardous in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension and patent foramen ovale.
J F
JF
Laine
M
M
Slama
P
P
Petitpretz
P
P
Girard
G
G
Motté
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006346:Heart Septum; D006801:Humans; D006830:Hydralazine / Q000009:adverse effects; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010313:Partial Pressure; D012769:Shock / Q000139:chemically induced; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D006830:Hydralazine; D010100:Oxygen