Unilateral pulmonary edema: a rare initial presentation of cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarction

J Korean Med Sci. 2012 Feb;27(2):211-4. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2012.27.2.211. Epub 2012 Jan 27.

Abstract

Cardiogenic unilateral pulmonary edema (UPE) is a rare clinical entity that is often misdiagnosed at first. Most cases of cardiogenic UPE occur in the right upper lobe and are caused by severe mitral regurgitation (MR). We present an unusual case of right-sided UPE in a patient with cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) without severe MR. The patient was successfully treated by percutaneous coronary intervention and medical therapy for heart failure. Follow-up chest Radiography showed complete resolution of the UPE. This case reminds us that AMI can present as UPE even in patients without severe MR or any preexisting pulmonary disease affecting the vasculature or parenchyma of the lung.

Keywords: Acute Myocardial Infarction; Heart Failure; Mitral Regurgitation; Unilateral Pulmonary Edema.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Aged
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Heart Atria / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Failure / diagnosis
  • Heart Failure / etiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mitral Valve Insufficiency / diagnostic imaging
  • Myocardial Infarction / complications
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis*
  • Myocardial Infarction / therapy
  • Pulmonary Edema / diagnosis*
  • Pulmonary Edema / etiology
  • Pulmonary Edema / therapy
  • Shock, Cardiogenic / diagnosis*
  • Shock, Cardiogenic / etiology
  • Shock, Cardiogenic / therapy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ultrasonography