Chest
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A subset of patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) develops pulmonary hypertension (PH) by mechanisms including pulmonary arterial hypertension, high flow, and elevated pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP). We aimed to describe echocardiographic and hemodynamic characteristics of patients with coexisting HHT and PH. ⋯ PH in patients with HHT occurs by different mechanisms, and there is a trend toward worse survival in patients who develop PH despite the mechanism. The equal predilection toward all subtypes of PH illustrates the necessity of RHC to clarify the hemodynamics.
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A 49-year-old man with a history of cryptogenic cirrhosis was referred to pulmonary clinic for evaluation prior to liver transplantation. Chest imaging obtained as part of the transplant workup had shown evidence of interstitial abnormalities. The patient noted shortness of breath on moderate exertion that was worsening over the past 2 to 3 years and associated with a nonproductive cough. ⋯ He did not have a history of alcohol consumption, smoking, or occupational exposures. He noted a family history of lung disease in his father and evidence of prominent clubbing in his sister and nephew. Workup for liver failure included a liver biopsy, which showed cirrhosis without evidence of autoimmune hepatitis.
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An 82-year-old Japanese nonsmoking man presented with persistent dry cough and small left apical pneumothorax. High resolution CT scan of the chest demonstrated bilateral upper lobe pleuroparenchymal thickening and architectural distortion. Serial imaging revealed mild progression and development of small bilateral pneumothoraces, and pneumomediastinum. A surgical lung biopsy was required to confirm the diagnosis.