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Pulmonary hypertension associated with bronchiolitis obliterans after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 51, pages 310–312 (2016)Cite this article

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Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a rare and potentially fatal complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). PH arises from increased pulmonary vascular resistance leading to increased right ventricular pressure (RVP), right heart failure and death.1 PH is often difficult to diagnose as symptoms can be nonspecific, including shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness and hypoxemia, and may also result in death if left untreated.2

Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in post-lung transplant and HSCT patients.3 BO is a non-reversible obstructive lung disease, in which bronchioles are compressed and narrowed by fibrosis and/or inflammation. This compression leads to persistent hypoxia. BO occurs in 3–10% of HSCT patients, is associated with chronic GvHD, and has an overall poor prognosis.4, 5

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immune Deficiency, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    A Pate, S Rotz, K C Myers, J El-Bietar, A Nelson, G Wallace, A H Filipovich, J Bleesing, S M Davies, S Jodele & C E Dandoy

  2. Division of Pathology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    M Warren

  3. Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    R Hirsch & M Cash

  4. Division of Critical Care, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    R S Chima

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  1. A Pate
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  2. S Rotz
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  13. S M Davies
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  15. C E Dandoy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C E Dandoy.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Pate, A., Rotz, S., Warren, M. et al. Pulmonary hypertension associated with bronchiolitis obliterans after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 51, 310–312 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2015.248

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