Alveolar capillary dysplasia

About: Alveolar capillary dysplasia is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 219 publications have been published within this topic receiving 5569 citations. The topic is also known as: Alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of pulmonary veins.

Incidence of alveolar capillary dysplasia in severe idiopathic persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

Abstract: Objective: To determine the incidence and outcome and to review the management of alveolar capillary dysplasia (ACD) among newborns with severe idiopathic persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). Methods: A retrospective review of medical records of infants admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit from 1982 to 2000 with a diagnosis of severe PPHN, and re-examination of lung histological sections was carried out. Results: Thirteen new-born infants with pulmonary hypertension not associated with any known cause were identified. All were treated with conventional mechanical ventilation or high-frequency oscillatory ventilation with high inspired-oxygen and non-specific pulmonary vasodilators. Nine infants were also treated with inhaled nitric oxide therapy and eight with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Seven infants died and six survived. At autopsies, the histological features of ACD were seen in the six who had died in the newborn period. All these had been treated with ECMO. In two of these six infants, lung biopsies had been performed showing similar features, suggesting the possibility of diagnosis during life. In the remaining infant, who died at 3 months of age, there was only marked hypertrophy of the muscle coat in the small pulmonary arteries. Conclusions: Alveolar capillary dysplasia is probably not as rare a condition as previously suggested in sporadic case reports from literature on the subject. It should be entertained as a cause of otherwise severe idiopathic PPHN of the newborn, particularly if ECMO is required. Diagnosis during life is possible by lung biopsy. It is uncertain if survival occurs with milder forms of the condition.

Congenital Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia with Misalignment of Pulmonary Veins Associated with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Abstract: Three full-term infants died in the first month of life with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLH) and persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPH). At postmortem examination, they were found to have alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of pulmonary veins (ACD with MPV). The association of HLH syndrome, and ACD with MPV with intestinal malrotation and/or obstruction, is unique. Decreased blood flow in the ascending aorta in fetuses with left outflow tract obstruction might cause vasoconstriction of pulmonary arterioles to maintain cerebral perfusion. Vasoconstriction early during embryogenesis might lead to decreased growth and development of alveolar capillaries and pulmonary veins. This results in pulmonary hypertension, and the arterial blood is forced to bypass the deficient capillary bed and can drain only via the anomalous bronchial veins.

CONGENITAL ALVEOLAR CAPILLARY DYSPLASIA: A Developmental Vascular Anomaly Causing Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn

Abstract: The clinical course and histologic findings are presented of an infant with an unusual form of pulmonary dysplasia. Characteristic sonographic findings and progressive hypoxemia led to the diagnosis of persistence of the fetal circulation. The patient expired despite ventilatory and pharmacologic intervention. Postmortem findings of severe pulmonary capillary hypoplasia, despite normal anatomical and biochemical parenchymal maturation, were observed. It is suggested that factors controlling pulmonary capillary maturation may be significantly different from those involved in airway and pulmonary parenchymal development.

Intrapulmonary vascular shunt pathways in alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of pulmonary veins

Abstract: Alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of pulmonary veins (ACD/MPV) is a lethal neonatal lung disease characterised by severe pulmonary hypertension, abnormal vasculature and intractable hypoxaemia. Mechanisms linking abnormal lung vasculature with severe hypoxaemia in ACD/MPV are unknown. We investigated whether bronchopulmonary anastomoses form right-to-left shunt pathways in ACD/MVP. We studied 2 infants who died of ACD/MPV postmortem with direct injections of coloured ink into the pulmonary artery, bronchial artery and pulmonary veins. Extensive histological evaluations included serial sectioning, immunostaining and 3-dimensional reconstruction demonstrated striking intrapulmonary vascular pathways linking the systemic and pulmonary circulations that bypass the alveolar capillary bed. These data support the role of prominent right-to-left intrapulmonary vascular shunt pathways in the pathophysiology of ACD/MPV.

Alveolar capillary dysplasia--a cause of persistent pulmonary hypertension unresponsive to a second course of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Abstract: Recurrence of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) after successful extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy has been reported.1,2 Payne1 treated the recurrence of PPHN with conventional therapy, and two of his three patients recovered. De La Cruz2 reported using a second course of ECMO to treat a recurrence of pulmonary hypertension and respiratory failure of other origins in three patients. Two of the three infants survived. As of January 13, 1993, there were a total of 47 infants reported to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) who had undergone a second course of ECMO.3 The two most common diagnoses among these infants were congenital diaphragrnatic hernia and PPHN.