Retrospective evaluation of possible lung transplantation for primary pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

We treated a 15-year-old famale with primary pulmonary hypertension while she was still asymptomatic. After 6 years she died of respiratory failure. Her pulronary hemodynamics monitered by cardiac catheterization showed good response to medical therapy without any symptoms for the first 3 years, but then deterionated, and she suffered repeated hemoptysis, syncope, and heart failure during her last 3 years. The possible effectiveness of lung transplantation for this patient is disccussed retrospectively.