Cardiology in the Young

Table of Contents - 2007 - Volume 17, Issue 02  


Brief Report

Respiratory syncytial virus as a trigger of a pulmonary hypertensive crisis after operative correction of aortic coarctation

Jussara B. Castelli a1c1, Wilma T. Maeda a2 and Vera D. Aiello a1
a1 Laboratory of Pathology, Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
a2 Paediatric Cardiology Unit, Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil

Article author query
castelli jb   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
maeda wt   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
aiello vd   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

We discuss a 9-month-old male baby, submitted to surgery for correction of aortic coarctation, who showed severe bronchospasm, hypoxaemia, and cardio-respiratory arrest, and who died on the fifth postoperative day. The autopsy revealed histological signs of severe pulmonary vasoconstriction, possibly as a consequence of hypoxaemia secondary to bronchiolitis due to infection with the respiratory syncytial virus. This supposition was confirmed when viruses were detected in pulmonary tissue by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy.

(Accepted September 14 2006)


Key Words: Congenital heart disease; hypoxia; cardiac postoperative outcome.

Correspondence:
c1 Correspondence to: Jussara B. Castelli, Laboratório de Anatomia Patológica, Instituto do Coração – Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP, Av. Dr Enéas Carvalho de Aguiar, 44, São Paulo – SP – Brazil, CEP 05403000. Tel: +55 11 3069 5077; Fax: +55 11 3069 5279; E-mail: anpjussara@incor.usp.br

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