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Eisenmenger syndrome
Eisenmenger complex; Eisenmenger disease; Eisenmenger reaction; Eisenmenger physiology; Congenital heart defect - Eisenmenger; Cyanotic heart disease - Eisenmenger; Birth defect heart - Eisenmenger
Eisenmenger syndrome is a condition that affects blood flow from the heart to the lungs in some people who were born with structural problems of the heart.
Causes
Eisenmenger syndrome is a condition that results from abnormal blood circulation caused by a defect in the heart. Most often, people with this condition are born with a hole between the two pumping chambers -- the left and right ventricles -- of the heart ( ventricular septal defect ). The hole allows blood that has already picked up oxygen from the lungs to flow back into the lungs, instead of going out to the rest of the body.
Ventricular septal defect
Ventricular septal defect is a hole in the wall that separates the right and left ventricles of the heart. Ventricular septal defect is one of the m...
Other heart defects that can lead to Eisenmenger syndrome include:
- Atrioventricular canal defect
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Atrial septal defect
Atrial septal defect
Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a heart defect that is present at birth (congenital). As a baby develops in the womb, a wall (septum) forms that divide...
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Cyanotic heart disease
Cyanotic heart disease
Cyanotic heart disease refers to a group of many different heart defects that are present at birth (congenital). They result in a low blood oxygen l...
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Patent ductus arteriosus
Patent ductus arteriosus
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a condition in which the ductus arteriosus does not close. The word "patent" means open. The ductus arteriosus is ...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Truncus arteriosus
Over many years, increased blood flow can damage the small blood vessels in the lungs. This causes high blood pressure in the lungs. As a result, the blood flow goes backward through the hole between the two pumping chambers. This allows oxygen-poor blood to travel to the rest of the body.
Eisenmenger syndrome may begin to develop before a child reaches puberty. However, it also can develop in young adulthood, and may progress throughout young adulthood.
Symptoms
Symptoms include:
- Bluish lips, fingers, toes, and skin (cyanosis)
- Rounded fingernails and toenails (clubbing)
- Numbness and tingling of fingers and toes
- Chest pain
- Coughing up blood
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Feeling tired
- Shortness of breath
- Skipped heartbeats (palpitations)
- Stroke
- Swelling in the joints caused by too much uric acid (gout)
Exams and Tests
The health care provider will examine the child. During the exam, the provider may find:
- Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
- Enlarged ends of the fingers or toes (clubbing)
- Heart murmur (an extra sound when listening to the heart)
The provider will diagnose Eisenmenger syndrome by looking at the person's history of heart problems. Tests may include:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Chest x-ray
- MRI scan of the heart
- Putting a thin tube in an artery to view the heart and blood vessels and measure pressures (cardiac catheterization)
- Test of the electrical activity in the heart (electrocardiogram)
- Ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram)
The number of cases of this condition in the United States has dropped because doctors are now able to diagnose and correct the defect sooner. The problem is corrected before irreversible damage occurs to the small lung arteries.
Treatment
At times, people with symptoms may have blood removed from the body (phlebotomy) to reduce the number of red blood cells. The person then receives fluids to replace the lost blood (volume replacement).
Affected people may receive oxygen, although it is unclear if it helps to prevent the disease from getting worse. In addition, medications that work to relax and open the blood vessels may be given. People with very severe symptoms may eventually need a heart-lung transplant.
Outlook (Prognosis)
How well the affected person does depends on whether another medical condition is present, and the age at which high blood pressure develops in the lungs. Patients with this condition can live 20 to 50 years.
Possible Complications
Complications may include:
- Bleeding (hemorrhage) in the brain
- Congestive heart failure
- Gout
- Heart attack
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Hyperviscosity
(sludging of the blood because it is too thick with blood cells)
Hyperviscosity
Polycythemia can occur when there are too many red blood cells in an infant's blood.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Infection (abscess) in the brain
- Kidney failure
- Poor blood flow to the brain
- Stroke
- Sudden death
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your provider if your child develops symptoms of Eisenmenger syndrome.
Prevention
Surgery as early as possible to correct the heart defect can prevent Eisenmenger syndrome.
References
Bernstein D. General principles of treatment of congenital heart disease. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics . 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 434.
Marelli AJ. Congenital heart disease in adults. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 69.
Webb GD, Smallhorn JF, Therrien J, Redington AN. Congenital heart disease. In: Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine . 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 62.
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Congenital heart defects - CHD - blood flow defects
Animation
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Eisenmenger syndrome - illustration
Children born with Eisenmenger syndrome are born with a hole between the two pumping chambers -- the left and right ventricles -- of the heart (ventricular septal defect). The hole allows blood that has already picked up oxygen from the lungs to flow back into the lungs, instead of going out to the rest of the body. The increased blood flow and high pressure damages the small blood vessels in the lungs.
Eisenmenger syndrome
illustration
-
Eisenmenger syndrome - illustration
Children born with Eisenmenger syndrome are born with a hole between the two pumping chambers -- the left and right ventricles -- of the heart (ventricular septal defect). The hole allows blood that has already picked up oxygen from the lungs to flow back into the lungs, instead of going out to the rest of the body. The increased blood flow and high pressure damages the small blood vessels in the lungs.
Eisenmenger syndrome
illustration
Review Date: 3/15/2016
Reviewed By: Scott I. Aydin, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Cardiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
