Health Encyclopedia

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease

Definition

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is a very rare disease. It leads to high blood pressure in the lung arteries (pulmonary hypertension).

Alternative Names

Pulmonary vaso-occlusive disease

Causes

In most cases, the cause of PVOD is unknown. The high blood pressure occurs in the pulmonary arteries. These lung arteries are directly connected to the right side of the heart.

The condition may be related to a viral infection. It may occur as a complication of certain diseases such as lupus, or bone marrow transplantation.

The disorder is most common among children and young adults. As the disease gets worse, it causes:

Narrowed pulmonary veins
Pulmonary artery hypertension
Congestion and swelling of the lungs

Possible risk factors for PVOD include:

Family history of the condition
Smoking
Exposure to substances like trichloroethylene or chemotherapy medicines
Systemic sclerosis (autoimmune skin disorder)

Symptoms

Symptoms may include any of the following:

Exams and Tests

The health care provider will examine you and ask about your medical history and symptoms.

The exam may reveal:

Increased pressure in the neck veins
Clubbing of the fingers
Bluish coloration of the skin due to lack of oxygen (cyanosis)
Swelling in the legs

Your provider may hear abnormal heart sounds when listening to the chest and lungs with a stethoscope.

The following tests may be done:

Arterial blood gases
Blood oximetry
Chest x-ray
Chest CT
Cardiac catheterization
Lung function tests
Echocardiogram
Lung biopsy

Treatment

There is currently no known effective medical treatment. However, the following medicines may be helpful for some people:

Medicines that widen the blood vessels (vasodilators)
Medicines that control the immune system response (such as azathioprine or steroids)

A lung transplant may be needed.

Outlook (Prognosis)

The outcome is often very poor in infants, with a survival rate of just a few weeks. Survival in adults may be months to a few years.

Possible Complications

Complications of PVOD may include:

Difficulty breathing that gets worse, including at night (sleep apnea)
Pulmonary hypertension
Right-sided heart failure (cor pulmonale)

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your provider if you have symptoms of this disorder.

References

Churg A, Wright JL. Pulmonary hypertension. In: Leslie KO, Wick MR, eds. Practical Pulmonary Pathology: A Diagnostic Approach. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 12.

Lammi MR, Mathai SC. Pulmonary hypertension: general approach. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 83.

Maron BA. Pulmonary hypertension. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 88.

Review Date:4/29/2022
Reviewed By:Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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