Cyanosis in uncomplicated atrial septal defect with normal right cardiac and pulmonary arterial pressures.

A patient with cyanosis in an uncomplicated ostium secundum atrial septal defect without pulmonary hypertension is described. There were no anatomic abnormalities in right-sided cardiac valves or venous return and no evidence of right ventricular hypoplasia or hypertrophy; however, the diastolic pressure curve suggested a decreased compliance. We suggest that this unusual finding may be a result of intrinsically abnormal right ventricular compliance.