Effective immunosuppressive therapy in a patient with primary pulmonary hypertension
- aCardiology Division, bClinical Immunology Branch, cCardiac Pathology, dPadua University School of Medicine, Italy
- Dr R Marcolongo, Università degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Servizio di Immunologia Clinica, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy.
- Received 27 May 1997
- Revision requested 17 September 1997
- Revised 14 October 1997
- Accepted 10 November 1997
Abstract
The case history is described of a young woman who presented with primary pulmonary hypertension and non-specific inflammatory signs. The patient received prolonged immunosuppressive treatment with low dose methotrexate and prednisone without any vasodilator agent. After one year the pulmonary artery pressure fell from a mean value of 47 mm Hg to 30 mm Hg and there was a corresponding clinical response. This case suggests that, in patients with pulmonary hypertension of unknown origin, immunopathogenetic factors should be sought in order to consider the utility of immunosuppressive therapy.
