scholarly journals Medical Therapy for Eisenmenger Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Author(s):  
Akshyaya Pradhan ◽  
Shweta Vohra ◽  
Pravesh Vishwakarma ◽  
Rishi Sethi

AbstractEisenmenger syndrome (ES) is defined as the process in which a long-standing left-to-right cardiac shunt caused by a congenital heart defect is eventually reversed into a cyanotic right-to-left shunt. It is crucial to recognize this grave pathology at the earliest because once it develops, treatment by medical or surgical means becomes even more challenging. In past decades, various therapeutic options have been developed that address the specific pathophysiological aspects of the disease and have shown to improve functional capacity and quality of life. There are three major therapeutic pathways in pulmonary hypertension treatment - endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors, and prostacyclin derivatives. These therapies not only improve hemodynamic parameters and exercise capacity but they also improve prognosis with various form of Pulmonary hypertension including ES. We report a case of a 35-year-old female of ostium secundum atrial septal defect with ES, started on upfront combination therapy of ambrisentan and tadalafil who demonstrated marked improvement after 3 months of medical therapy.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 204589402091583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza S. Pratama ◽  
Anggoro B. Hartopo ◽  
Dyah W. Anggrahini ◽  
Vera C. Dewanto ◽  
Lucia K. Dinarti

Uncorrected atrial septal defect undergoes right ventricle chronic volume overload which may lead to pulmonary hypertension and Eisenmenger Syndrome. The soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 is a left ventricle strain biomarker; however, its role in right ventricle strain is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the implication of serum soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 in adult uncorrected atrial septal defect. This was a cross-sectional study. We enrolled 81 adult uncorrected secundum atrial septal defect patients. Clinical and hemodynamic data were collected. Serum samples were withdrawn from the pulmonary artery during right heart catheterization. Serum soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 and NT-proBNP levels were measured. Subjects were divided into three groups based on clinical and hemodynamic severity. The correlation of soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 with patients' data and comparison among groups were analyzed. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results showed that, there were significant correlations between serum soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 and mean pulmonary artery pressure ( r = 0.203, p = 0.035) and right ventricle end-diastolic diameter ( r = 0.203, p <0.05). Median serum soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 level was incrementally increased from group I (atrial septal defect and no-pulmonary hypertension), group II (left-to-right atrial septal defect and pulmonary hypertension), to group III (Eisenmenger Syndrome): (17.4 ng/mL, 21.8 ng/mL, and 29.4 ng/mL, respectively). A post-hoc analysis showed that serum soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 level was significantly different between groups I and III ( p = 0.01). Serum N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level was consistently associated with worse clinical and hemodynamic parameters. No correlation was found between serum soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 and NT-proBNP level. In conclusion, serum soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 level had significant positive correlation with mean pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricle end-diastolic diameter in uncorrected secundum atrial septal defect patients. Higher serum soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 level was associated with the presence of pulmonary hypertension and Eisenmenger Syndrome in uncorrected secundum atrial septal defect patients.


2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 125-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dunbar Ivy

There are currently 12 medications approved for use in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in adults. These include endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators, and prostacyclins. However, in children there are no approved targeted PAH medications, with the exception of inhaled nitric oxide for treatment of hypoxemic respiratory failure in neonates. This review will address some of the challenges in the development of treatments for children, including lessons from recent trials, endpoints for clinical trials, and challenges with drug approval in children.


2021 ◽  
pp. 204589402110073
Author(s):  
Nick H Kim ◽  
Demosthenes G. Papamatheakis ◽  
Timothy M. Fernandes

Although pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the treatment of choice for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), many patients have inoperable disease, and some have persistent or recurrent pulmonary hypertension (PH) after surgery. Alternative options (balloon pulmonary angioplasty [BPA] and PH-targeted medical therapy) are, therefore, required. Studies of medical therapies for CTEPH have evolved since AIR, the first randomized, controlled study of a PH-targeted therapy (inhaled iloprost) to include patients with CTEPH. Key learnings from these studies include the need to evaluate CTEPH separately from other types of PH, the importance of prospective operability adjudication as part of the protocol, and the need for sufficient duration to allow treatment benefits to become apparent. The 16-week CHEST-1 study was the first to operationalize these learnings, demonstrating a significant mean improvement in 6-minute walk distance (+46 m) and improvements in hemodynamic endpoints with riociguat versus placebo. Findings from previous studies will inform the design of future studies to address key issues related to combination medical therapy. Data on combinations of macitentan with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors or oral prostanoids are available from MERIT, the first study to allow such regimens. No data on combinations including riociguat, the only licensed medical therapy for CTEPH, are available. Studies are also needed for multi-modality treatment, including medical therapy plus BPA, and medical therapy as a bridge to PEA in selected operable patients. To address these issues and improve patient outcomes, it is vital that we learn from current studies to improve future trial design.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosaria Barracano ◽  
Heba Nashat ◽  
Andrew Constantine ◽  
Konstantinos Dimopoulos

Abstract Background Eisenmenger syndrome is a multisystem disorder, characterised by a significant cardiac defect, severe pulmonary hypertension and long-standing cyanosis. Despite the availability of pulmonary hypertension therapies and improved supportive care in specialist centres, Eisenmenger patients are still faced with significant morbidity and mortality. Case presentation We describe the case of a 44-year-old woman with Eisenmenger syndrome secondary to a large secundum atrial septal defect. Her pulmonary vascular disease was treated with pulmonary vasodilators, but she experienced a progressive decline in exercise tolerance, increasing atrial arrhythmias, resulting in referral for transplantation. Her condition was complicated by significant recurrent haemoptysis in the context of extremely dilated pulmonary arteries and in-situ thrombosis, which prompted successful heart and lung transplantation. She made a slow recovery but remains well 3 years post-transplant. Conclusions Patients with Eisenmenger syndrome secondary to a pre-tricuspid lesion, such as an atrial septal defect have a natural history that differs to patients with post-tricuspid shunts; the disease tends to present later in life but is more aggressive, prompting early and aggressive medical intervention with pulmonary arterial hypertension therapies. This case illustrates that severe recurrent haemoptysis can be an indication for expediting transplantation in Eisenmenger syndrome patients.


CHEST Journal ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 694-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigeo Yamaki ◽  
Togo Horiuchi ◽  
Makoto Miura ◽  
Yasuyuki Suzuki ◽  
Eiji Ishizawa ◽  
...  

ESC CardioMed ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 1030-1035
Author(s):  
Mike Kirby ◽  
Jonny Coxon

It should not be presumed that male patients with cardiovascular disease are less sexually active than others, but they are more likely to have erectile dysfunction. It is therefore crucial to consider the impact on sexual function of medications commonly used to treat cardiovascular disease, because negative effects on erectile dysfunction can lead to problems with compliance and quality of life. Cardiovascular implications of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors used to treat erectile dysfunction should be borne in mind. Effective treatment of the cardiac condition should always take priority.


ESC CardioMed ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 781-784
Author(s):  
Shahin Moledina ◽  
Bejal Pandya

Congenital heart disease is a major cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and this can largely be prevented by early repair. PAH in the presence of systemic-to-pulmonary communication, leads to shunt reversal and cyanosis, with multiple systemic consequences (Eisenmenger syndrome). Congenital heart disease patients with PAH are vulnerable and are at high risk from non-cardiac surgery, pregnancy, and inappropriate medical treatment (e.g. excessive venesection). Survival is reduced, but is better than in idiopathic PAH. Recommendations for surgery should be based on careful assessment by experts. Modern PAH pharmacotherapy is showing promise in improving quality of life.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 529-534
Author(s):  
Noor Mohammad Noori ◽  
Alireza Teimouri

Background Ventricular septal defect, the most common congenital heart defect, is characterized by an opening between the ventricles. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical course and associations between the characteristics of ventricular septal defect. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1498 children with ventricular septal defects, aged <19 years, who were referred to our center between 2003 and 2018. The diagnosis was suspected from a combination of clinical and laboratory findings, and confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography. Results Of the 1498 children, 54.9% were boys, 78.4% of defects were perimembranous, 30.4% of patients had pulmonary hypertension, 67.5% had regular follow-up, and 76 (5.1%) had complications including 28 (1.9%) with Eisenmenger syndrome; 10 died due to Eisenmenger syndrome during follow-up. The defects closed spontaneously in 38.9% and after surgery in 20.9%. Boys tended to have more perimembranous, inlet, and outlet forms (56.40%, 50.60%, 51.90%, respectively), whereas girls had more muscular types (51.80%). Most patients with pulmonary hypertension had perimembranous defects (83.10%). The majority of patients with pulmonary hypertension had large (63.40%) or moderate (36.60%) defects. Pulmonary hypertension had a significant association with defect size ( p < 0.001). After surgery, residual defects were found mostly in cases of large defects (84.60%). Most patients with spontaneous closure were younger than 4 years. Conclusion Almost four-fifths of children with ventricular septal defects had perimembranous types, and almost one-third had pulmonary hypertension which was associated with defect size. Two-fifths of the defects closed spontaneously. There was a low incidence of complications after surgery.


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