Long-term follow-up of pulmonary hypertension of unknown etiology
Lang, I.; Kneussl, M.; Frank, H.; Mlczoch, J.
Pneumologie 44(7): 913-914
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0934-8387 PMID: 2399244 Document Number: 356645
Since 1967, 166 patients with primary pulmonary hypertension of unknown etiology have been followed-up at the Department of Cardiology at the University of Vienna. Although an exact etiopathogenetic differentiation was not possible, three groups of patients were identified clinically: patients with so-called primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH)--group 1; patients with pulmonary hypertension induced by anorexipens (aminorex fumarate)--group 2; and patients with pulmonary hypertension due to emboli in the large pulmonary vessels--group 3. In addition to non-invasive echocardiographic assessment of pulmonary pressures, regular cardiac catheterizations were carried out, which revealed right atrial mean pressure, cardiac output, and mixed venous saturation to be prognostic predictive factors. Patients with anorexigen-induced pulmonary hypertension have a clearly better life expectancy than those with PPH. Owing to the temporally limited effect of the pulmonary hypertension-inducing agent, aminorex fumarate (Menocil), patients with anorexigen-induced pulmonary hypertension may be considered a model group for drug-induced vascular pathology.