Histologic findings of ductus arteriosus and pulmonary vascular disease in interrupted aortic arch.
There are still a number of unsolved problems concerning the total correction of interruption of the aortic arch. Here we report a histopathological investigation of the patent ductus arterious and pulmonary vascular disease using autopsy material of a patient with Celoria type B interruption of the aortic arch who died postoperatively. The so-called ductus arteriosus between the pulmonary arterial trunk and the descending aorta was lacking in elastic fibers and smooth muscle cells at the media showing discontinuous, transverse fibrous tissue. The vessel walls were weak and normal development was apparently impossible. Consequently, it was concluded that in the reconstruction of the aortic arch in such cases with PDDT, it is advisable not to use the patent ductus arteriosus. In this case, hypertrophy of the media of small pulmonary arteries was marked, but pulmonary vascular intimal lesions were mild. With regard to the pathogenesis, it is thought that there was sufficient thickening of the media of the pulmonary arterial system in response to the pulmonary hypertension present from birth, and it prevented the progression of the intimal lesions by accommodating to the intraarterial pressure.
D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D007223:Infant; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000473:pathology*