Multifactorial pulmonary hypertension in infantile scimitar syndrome

Damien Bonnet, Isabelle Szezepanski, Christophe Delacourt, Sophie Malkezadeh-Milani, Maryline Lévy
Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Université de Paris
France

Archives of Cardiovascular Disease
Arch Cardiovasc Dis 2022; 115: 142-150
DOI: 10.1016/j.acvd.2022.01.004

Abstract
Background: Pulmonary hypertension in infantile scimitar syndrome is highly prevalent at diagnosis, and has a multifactorial origin.
Aims: To analyse the constellation of anatomical anomalies and initial physiology, and their contribution to pulmonary hypertension and outcome in infantile scimitar syndrome.
Methods: Pulmonary hypertension causes were classified into five categories: associated with systemic supply to the right lung; associated with left-to-right shunt; postcapillary; related to respiratory or developmental lung disease; and “idiopathic-like” pulmonary arterial hypertension. Co-morbidities contributing to pulmonary hypertension were also classified according to the World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension (WSPH) and Panama classifications.
Results: Of 111 patients, 64 had pulmonary hypertension; 24 patients had one cause of pulmonary hypertension, 23 had two potential causes and 17 had at least three potential causes. Co-morbidities contributing to pulmonary hypertension described the multifactorial origin in>80% of patients, with associated congenital heart disease being the main contributor. Mortality was 41% in patients with and 7% in patients without pulmonary hypertension. The proportions of deaths among patients with one, two or more than two causes of pulmonary hypertension were similar. Eight of 38 survivors had persisting pulmonary hypertension at last follow-up. The risk of death was associated pulmonary hypertension at diagnosis (P=0.002) and the presence of an associated congenital heart disease requiring surgical repair (P=0.039).
Conclusions: Scimitar syndrome is an archetypal example of multifactorial causes of pulmonary hypertension, with associated congenital heart disease and pulmonary vascular anomalies being the main contributors. Infants with scimitar syndrome require accurate phenotyping to guide management and predict outcome.

Category
Class I. Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Congenital Heart Disease
Abnormal Systemic to Pulmonary Arterial Collaterals or Connections
Class II. Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Pulmonary Vein Stenosis
Class III. Developmental Diseases of the Lung

Age Focus: Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Fresh or Filed Publication: Filed (PHiled). Greater than 1-2 years since publication

Article Access
Free PDF File or Full Text Article Available Through PubMed or DOI: No

Scroll to Top