Mineralocorticoid receptor blockade improves pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular function in bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a case report

Abstract

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a combined pulmonary vascular and parenchymal disease, representing the most common cause of chronic lung disease (CLD) in infancy. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is frequently associated with BPD and-if persistent-substantially increases mortality. We report on a 4-month-old, former preterm infant with BPD, severe PH and right heart failure who greatly and rapidly improved clinical status and right ventricular (RV) function by means of blood biomarkers [N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), cardiac troponin T] and transthoracic echocardiography, following the addition of spironolactone and hydrochlorothiazide to the treatment regimen.

Keywords: Pulmonary hypertension (PH); bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD); case report; hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ); spironolactone.