Case Report: severe pulmonary hypertension in a child with micronutrient deficiency

Laure Pache-Wannaz, Cristiana Voicu, Laurence Boillat, Nicole Sekarski
Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne.
Switzerland

Frontiers in Pediatrics
Front Pediatr 2025; 13:
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2025.1478889

Abstract
We describe the rare case of a previously healthy seven year-old boy, with an acute clinical onset of severe pulmonary hypertension. He recovered rapidly after vitamin supplementation. Patient history showed a highly selective food intake in the context of autistic features. Thiamine deficiency seemed to be the predominant causing factor aggravated by moderate iron deficiency and supposed vitamin C deficiency. Dietary impact on pulmonary pressures is still poorly understood, but it seems that micronutrient deficiency could be a rare cause of pulmonary hypertension. Relatively frequent in developing countries and mostly in infants, thiamine deficiency should not be forgotten as a potential etiology in the differential diagnosis when patient dietary history is particular.

Category
Acquired Patient Factors Associated with Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Environmental Factors Associated with Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Medical Therapy. Efficacy or Lack of Efficacy

Age Focus: Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Fresh or Filed Publication: Fresh (PHresh). Less than 1-2 years since publication

Article Access
Free PDF File or Full Text Article Available Through PubMed or DOI: Yes