title: Pulmonary hypertension secondary to pulmonary veno-occlusive disease complicated by right heart failure, hypotension and acute kidney injury.
abstract: Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is rare condition which can lead to severe pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular dysfunction, and cardiopulmonary failure. The diagnosis of PVOD can be challenging due to its nonspecific symptoms and its similarity to idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and interstitial lung disease in terms of diagnostic findings. This case describes a 57 year old female patient who presented with a 5-month history of progressive dyspnea on exertion and nonproductive cough. Workup at another hospital was nonspecific and the patient underwent surgical lung biopsy due to concern for interstitial lung disease. She subsequently became hemodynamically unstable and was transferred to our hospital where she presented with severe hypoxemia, hypotension, and suprasystemic pulmonary artery pressures. Preliminary lung biopsy results suggested idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and the patient was started on vasodilating agents, including continuous epoprostenol infusion. Pulmonary artery pressures decreased but remained suprasystemic and the patient did not improve. Final review of the biopsy by a specialized laboratory revealed a diagnosis of PVOD after which vasodilating therapy was immediately weaned off. Evaluation for dual heart-lung transplantation was begun. The patient's hospital course was complicated by hypotension requiring vasopressors, worsening right ventricular dysfunction, and acute kidney injury. During the transplantation evaluation, the patient decided that she did not want to undergo continued attempts at stabilization of her progressive multi-organ dysfunction and she was transitioned to comfort care. She expired hours after removing inotropic support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 757 Westwood Plaza, Suite 7501, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Nima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Golzy
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Hypertension Program, Department of Pulmonology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 South San Vicente Blvd, Suite A3600, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Department of Solid Organ Transplant Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 South San Vicente Blvd, Suite A3600, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
authors.forename: Stuti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 757 Westwood Plaza, Suite 7501, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sharim
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Hypertension Program, Department of Pulmonology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 South San Vicente Blvd, Suite A3600, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Department of Solid Organ Transplant Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 South San Vicente Blvd, Suite A3600, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
authors.forename: Rikin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tank
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Mayo Clinic, 13400 East Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA.
authors.forename: Henry D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Tazelaar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hoag Hospital, 1 Hoag Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92663, USA.
authors.forename: Howard E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Hypertension Program, Department of Pulmonology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 South San Vicente Blvd, Suite A3600, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Department of Solid Organ Transplant Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 South San Vicente Blvd, Suite A3600, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tapson
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Hypertension Program, Department of Pulmonology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 South San Vicente Blvd, Suite A3600, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Department of Solid Organ Transplant Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 South San Vicente Blvd, Suite A3600, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hage
keywords: Epoprostenol; Lung biopsy; Pulmonary hypertension; Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease