Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease

Abstract

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is currently classified as a subgroup of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and accounts for 5–10% of cases initially considered to be idiopathic PAH. PVOD has been described as idiopathic or complicating other conditions, including connective tissue diseases, HIV infection, bone marrow transplantation, sarcoidosis and pulmonary Langerhans cell granulomatosis. PVOD shares broadly similar clinical presentation, genetic background and haemodynamic characteristics with PAH. Compared to PAH, PVOD is characterised by a higher male/female ratio, higher tobacco exposure, lower arterial oxygen tension at rest, lower diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, and lower oxygen saturation nadir during the 6-min walk test. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest can be suggestive of PVOD in the presence of centrilobular ground-glass opacities, septal lines and lymph node enlargement. Similarly, occult alveolar haemorrhage is associated with PVOD. A noninvasive diagnostic approach using HRCT of the chest, arterial blood gases, pulmonary function tests and bronchoalveolar lavage could be helpful for the detection of PVOD patients and in avoiding high-risk surgical lung biopsy for histological confirmation. PVOD is characterised by a poor prognosis and the possibility of developing severe pulmonary oedema with specific PAH therapy. Lung transplantation is the treatment of choice. Cautious use of specific PAH therapy can, however, be helpful in some patients.