Publication:

Idiopathic acute onset pulmonary artery hypertension in infancy need for research

Background The aim of this study was to study the clinical outcome of infants beyond neonatal period who presented with acute onset pulmonary artery hypertension of unknown etiology.

Methods This is a retrospective case record analysis of all the babies admitted to pediatric intensive care unit between January 2013 to March 2017 at Rajarajeswari Medical College with signs and symptoms of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension on clinical examination and ECHO. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis has been carried out in the present study.

Results Out of 49 infants beyond neonatal period who presented with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, 9 were females and 40 were males. 43 babies required ventilator support and 6 babies required only supplemental oxygen. Out of 33 babies who expired, cardiogenic shock and severe hypoxia was the main cause of death in 19, pulmonary hemorrhage in 4, acute kidney injury and fluid overload in 2, multi organ dysfunction in 1, septicemia in 4 and disseminated intravascular coagulation in 3. Babies who survived less than 72 hours cardiogenic shock and severe hypoxia was the main cause of death and babies who survived more than a week, pulmonary hemorrhage, acute kidney injury and fluid overload, multi organ dysfunction, septicemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation were the main cause of death.

Conclusions There is a need for research in infants beyond neonatal period with pulmonary arterial hypertension, to find out the etiology.