[Isolated agenesia of pulmonary artery].
Unilateral primitive agenesia of pulmonary artery is a rare congenital disorder. Experience of three hospital-based pulmonology pediatric units including eight children (three boys and five girls) with such anomaly is reported (11 years median follow-up, range 6 months to 10 years). Median age at diagnosis was 4 years. Clinical features included recurrent respiratory tract infections (75%), effort dyspnea (50%) and, curiously, asthmatic symptoms (75%). Diagnosis was evoked on chest X rays and confirmed by angiography in all cases. Agenesis of the right pulmonary artery was more frequent (five cases). Abnormal vascular ring was associated in two cases of agenesis of the left pulmonary artery. Pulmonary function tests were performed in six children, with bronchial obstruction in two. Regular clinical follow-up, up to adult age in four cases, showed no complication, such as hemoptysis or pulmonary hypertension in our patients.
Boudard
I
I
Unité de médecine infantile, CHU Timone-enfants, 13385 Marseille cedex 05, France.
Mely
L
L
Labbé
A
A
Bellon
G
G
Chabrol
B
B
Dubus
J-C
JC
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies