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Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease - Overview

Alternative Names

Pulmonary vaso-occlusive disease

Definition of Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease:

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease is an extremely rare form of high blood pressure in the lung area.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

In most cases, the cause of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease is unknown. The condition may be related to a viral infection. It may occur as a complication of certain diseases such as lupus, or as a complication of leukemia, lymphoma, chemotherapy, or bone marrow transplantation.

The disorder is most common among children and young adults. As the disease gets worse, it causes narrowed pulmonary veins, pulmonary hypertension, congestion, and swelling of the lungs.

Respiratory system

Reviewed last on: 6/10/2008
Sean O. Stitham, MD, private practice in Internal Medicine, Seattle, Washington; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Schwarz MI, Collard HR, King TE. Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage and Other Rare Infiltrative Disorders. In: Mason RJ, Murray J, VC Broaddus, Nadel J. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2005: chap. 56.

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