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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Pulmonary hypertension
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Pulmonary hypertension
by paulja2, Apr 08, 2004 12:00AM
I am a 24F and this past August I was diagnosed with a pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour. I had a lobectomy to remove the 6 cm tumour which I am told was there for several years. Post-surgery, I was declared “cured” & the pathology report did not show thickening of the blood vessel walls. I have since had CT scans, pulmonary function tests, and X-rays.
Post-surgery I have had trouble taking a deep breath and get out of breath while talking. I felt this could be explain by the surgery, but by March, my surgeon thought I should be getting better and referred me to a respirologist thinking I had asthma, which was later confirmed (although I have never had an attack). I later did an exercise and ECG test for the asthma, but the test was stopped because of ST segment depression/inversion after about 8 min. and a very fast HR. I felt fine and could have kept going. He has now suggested I have PH and has referred me to get an echocardiogram and see a cardiologist –but this is weeks away. I recognize that I need more information before getting too worried, but my respirologist seemed quite concerned. Up until August, I would have considered myself a very healthy/active person. I have been reading everything I can find on PH, but still have questions:
- Could the possible PH have anything to do with my pulmonary IMT?
- Should I be concerned about exercising in the meantime?
- Could the ST segment depression and fast HR mean something else or is it pretty indicative of PH?
- Am I getting myself worked up over nothing, or should I truly be concerned?
Thanks, Jen
Post-surgery I have had trouble taking a deep breath and get out of breath while talking. I felt this could be explain by the surgery, but by March, my surgeon thought I should be getting better and referred me to a respirologist thinking I had asthma, which was later confirmed (although I have never had an attack). I later did an exercise and ECG test for the asthma, but the test was stopped because of ST segment depression/inversion after about 8 min. and a very fast HR. I felt fine and could have kept going. He has now suggested I have PH and has referred me to get an echocardiogram and see a cardiologist –but this is weeks away. I recognize that I need more information before getting too worried, but my respirologist seemed quite concerned. Up until August, I would have considered myself a very healthy/active person. I have been reading everything I can find on PH, but still have questions:
- Could the possible PH have anything to do with my pulmonary IMT?
- Should I be concerned about exercising in the meantime?
- Could the ST segment depression and fast HR mean something else or is it pretty indicative of PH?
- Am I getting myself worked up over nothing, or should I truly be concerned?
Thanks, Jen
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Apr 13, 2004 12:00AM
, Apr 13, 2004 12:00AM
Pulmonary hypertension is an increase in the pressure within the blood vessels of the lung. Normal pulmonary artery pressure is 25/15. Pulmonary hypertension is separated into 2 types based on the problem that is causing the increase in pressure. Primary pulmonary hypertension is caused by problems within the blood vessels of the lung. A lung problem, a heart problem, or an autoimmune disease that involves the pulmonary artery can result in secondary pulmonary hypertension. Now I will answer your specific questions.
- Could the possible PH have anything to do with my pulmonary IMT? I found nothing in a literature search to suggest this. The myofibroblastic tumor is made up of muscle tissue. It is possible that the pulmonary hypertension could be caused by hypertrophy of the musculature of the pulmonary blood vessels. The first step is to determine whether or not you have PH. If you do, then further evaluation is needed. There are groups of academic physicians at university medical centers (such as the Univ. of Colorado Medical Center), who specialize in pulmonary hypertension, and if you have PH, you might want to consult with one of these groups.
- Should I be concerned about exercising in the meantime? Yes. I would not engage in any strenuous exercise and, if I did, I would wear a cardiac monitor.
Could the ST segment depression and fast HR mean something else or is it pretty indicative of PH? It is not indicative of PH. The ST depression could be secondary to an excessively high heart rate alone.
- Am I getting myself worked up over nothing, or should I truly be concerned? Your concern is warranted but the need to sort out the problem is not urgent. It could be that your asthma is the cause of your shortness of breath.
Getting an ECHO and seeing a cardiologist is the correct next step.
- Could the possible PH have anything to do with my pulmonary IMT? I found nothing in a literature search to suggest this. The myofibroblastic tumor is made up of muscle tissue. It is possible that the pulmonary hypertension could be caused by hypertrophy of the musculature of the pulmonary blood vessels. The first step is to determine whether or not you have PH. If you do, then further evaluation is needed. There are groups of academic physicians at university medical centers (such as the Univ. of Colorado Medical Center), who specialize in pulmonary hypertension, and if you have PH, you might want to consult with one of these groups.
- Should I be concerned about exercising in the meantime? Yes. I would not engage in any strenuous exercise and, if I did, I would wear a cardiac monitor.
Could the ST segment depression and fast HR mean something else or is it pretty indicative of PH? It is not indicative of PH. The ST depression could be secondary to an excessively high heart rate alone.
- Am I getting myself worked up over nothing, or should I truly be concerned? Your concern is warranted but the need to sort out the problem is not urgent. It could be that your asthma is the cause of your shortness of breath.
Getting an ECHO and seeing a cardiologist is the correct next step.
