Pulmonary hypertension in systemic lupus erythematosus: hemodynamics and effects of vasodilator therapy.
A case is reported of a 29-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who developed clinical manifestations of pulmonary hypertension at a time when other manifestations of SLE were quiescent. She had a restrictive ventilatory defect but clear lung fields on chest x ray. Cardiac catheterization revealed severe pulmonary hypertension. Calculated pulmonary vascular resistance fell slightly after administration of oxygen and during infusion of vasodilators. Symptomatic improvement and a modest increase in right ventricular ejection fraction, as measured by radionuclide ventriculography, were noted following 1 week of oral hydralazine therapy. Clinically significant pulmonary hypertension is a rare complication of SLE and the increased pulmonary vascular resistance may not be entirely fixed. Cardiac catheterization and radionuclide ventriculography may be useful in assessing response to medical therapy.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006830:Hydralazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D013318:Stroke Volume; D014655:Vascular Resistance
D006830:Hydralazine