PURPOSE: To correlate pretherapeutic thin-section computed tomographic (CT) findings in patients with pulmonary hypertension with the risk of fatality with treatment with epoprostenol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-three consecutive patients with severe pulmonary hypertension treated with epoprostenol were retrospectively separated into two groups. The first group included 12 patients who had a fatal outcome with epoprostenol therapy. The second group (n = 61) was a reference group of patients with epoprostenol-induced clinical improvement. Pretherapeutic thin-section CT scans of each patient were reviewed. RESULTS: Poorly defined nodular opacities (P =.003), septal lines (P =.04), pleural effusion (P =.01), and adenopathy (P =.009) strongly correlated with a risk of clinical worsening with treatment. In six patients in group 1, postmortem examination of the lung revealed either pulmonary veno-occlusive disease or pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis. CONCLUSION: On pretherapeutic thin-section CT scans, poorly defined nodular opacities, septal lines, pleural effusion, and adenopathy should raise suspicion for pulmonary veno-occlusive disease or pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis and provoke possible further evaluation before epoprostenol therapy.
PURPOSE: To correlate pretherapeutic thin-section computed tomographic (CT) findings in patients with pulmonary hypertension with the risk of fatality with treatment with epoprostenol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-three consecutive patients with severe pulmonary hypertension treated with epoprostenol were retrospectively separated into two groups. The first group included 12 patients who had a fatal outcome with epoprostenol therapy. The second group (n = 61) was a reference group of patients with epoprostenol-induced clinical improvement. Pretherapeutic thin-section CT scans of each patient were reviewed. RESULTS: Poorly defined nodular opacities (P =.003), septal lines (P =.04), pleural effusion (P =.01), and adenopathy (P =.009) strongly correlated with a risk of clinical worsening with treatment. In six patients in group 1, postmortem examination of the lung revealed either pulmonary veno-occlusive disease or pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis. CONCLUSION: On pretherapeutic thin-section CT scans, poorly defined nodular opacities, septal lines, pleural effusion, and adenopathy should raise suspicion for pulmonary veno-occlusive disease or pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis and provoke possible further evaluation before epoprostenol therapy.
Authors: Jay Suntharalingam; Rob MacKenzie Ross; Jacob Easaw; Graham Robinson; Gerry Coghlan Journal: Clin Med (Lond) Date: 2016-04 Impact factor: 2.659
Authors: Robert W Foley; Nirav Kaneria; Rob V MacKenzie Ross; Jay Suntharalingam; Benjamin J Hudson; Jonathan Cl Rodrigues; Graham Robinson Journal: Br J Radiol Date: 2020-09-11 Impact factor: 3.039
Authors: Monika Szturmowicz; Aneta Kacprzak; Barbara Burakowska; Marcin Kurzyna; Anna Fijałkowska; Iwona Bestry; Adam Torbicki Journal: Multidiscip Respir Med Date: 2010-12-20