ISSN:
1432-2307
Keywords:
Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease
;
Pulmonary Venous Lesions
;
Pulmonary Arterial Lesions
;
Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis
;
Interstitial Pneumonia
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The histopathology of the lungs is described in 13 patients with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. The patients were mostly children or young adults and there was no sex preference as is seen in primary pulmonary hypertension. Characteristically the small pulmonary veins and venules were narrowed or occluded by intimal fibrosis, but larger veins were also affected. These obstructive lesions almost certainly resulted from organization of thrombi. Changes in the pulmonary arteries were generally secondary to obstruction of pulmonary venous flow but there was also a high incidence of thrombotic changes in the arteries. Pulmonary parenchymal lesions commonly found included interstitial pneumonia and fibrosis, siderosis and cellular proliferation, together with increased activity of bronchial mucous glands and bronchial epithelial mucous cells. These changes may have indicated an infection, possibly of viral nature, as an aetiological factor in some of the patients. Consistent with such a cause is the common observation of an infectious febrile respiratory illness preceding the onset of symptoms due to pulmonary veno-occlusive disease.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01230858
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