A patient with hyperthyroidism may develop pulmonary hypertension. Treatment of the hyperthyroidism can reverse the pulmonary hypertension.
Clinical features:
(1) presence of hyperthyroidism
(2) presence of dyspnea with or without peripheral edema
(3) elevated pulmonary arterial pressure (Nakchbandt et al use mean pressure > 25 mm Hg at rest or > 30 mm Hg during exercise; Siu et al use systolic pressure >= 35 mm Hg)
(4) normalization of the pulmonary artery systolic pressure following treatment of the hyperthyroidism
The pulmonary hypertension can be found in neonates with congenital hyperthyroidism.
The pulmonary hypertension may be arterial or venous, as determined by pulmonary capillary wedge pressure on Doppler echocardiography (normal in arterial, elevated in venous hypertension).
Differential diagnosis:
(1) heart failure
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