Eisenmenger syndrome
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Eisenmenger syndrome is most often a complication of having a hole (shunt) between two chambers of your heart. Here, a hole between the heart’s main pumping chambers (ventricular septal defect) causes increased blood flow to the pulmonary arteries. Eventually the shunt irreparably damages the walls of your lung’s arteries (pulmonary arteries). Eisenmenger syndrome occurs when the pressure in the pulmonary arteries becomes so high that it causes oxygen-poor (blue) blood to flow from the right to left ventricle and then to the body, causing cyanosis. The high pressure also causes the wall of your heart’s right ventricle to thicken (hypertrophy).
Eisenmenger (I-sun-meng-uhr) syndrome is a complication of a heart defect that you’re born with (congenital).
A heart defect that causes a hole (shunt) to develop between two chambers of your heart is the most common cause of Eisenmenger syndrome. This hole causes blood to circulate abnormally in your heart and lungs. Increased blood flow returns to your lungs instead of going to the rest of your body. The blood vessels in your lung arteries become stiff and narrow, increasing the pressure in your lungs’ arteries. This permanently damages the blood vessels in your lungs.
Eisenmenger syndrome occurs when the increased pressure of the blood flow in the lung becomes so great that the direction of blood flow through the shunt reverses. Oxygen-poor (blue) blood from the right side of the heart flows into the left side of the heart and is pumped to your body so you don’t receive enough oxygen to all your organs and tissues.
Eisenmenger syndrome is a life-threatening condition requiring careful medical monitoring. Medications can improve symptoms and prognosis.
Eisenmenger syndrome signs and symptoms include:
If you have any signs or symptoms of Eisenmenger syndrome, make an appointment to see your doctor. Even if you haven’t previously been diagnosed with a heart defect, symptoms such as cyanosis and shortness of breath are signals that you have a health problem that needs medical attention.
Eisenmenger syndrome develops most often due to a hole between the chambers of your heart. To understand how Eisenmenger syndrome affects your heart and lungs, it’s helpful to know how your heart works.
Your heart is divided into four chambers, two on the right and two on the left. In performing its basic job — pumping blood throughout your body — your heart uses its left and right sides for different tasks.
The right side moves blood into vessels that lead to your lungs. In your lungs, oxygen enriches your blood, which circulates to your heart’s left side. The left side of your heart pumps blood into a large vessel called the aorta, which circulates blood to the rest of your body.
Valves control the flow of blood into and out of the chambers of your heart. These valves open to allow blood to move to the next chamber or to one of the arteries, and they close to keep blood from flowing backward.
For most people who have Eisenmenger syndrome, the cause of their condition is due to a hole (shunt) between the main blood vessels or chambers of your heart. This shunt is a heart defect you’re born with (congenital). Heart defects that can cause Eisenmenger syndrome include:
For each of these defects, the increased pressure of blood flowing through the shunt increases the pressure in your pulmonary artery. Over time, this increased pressure damages the smaller blood vessels in your lungs.
Eisenmenger syndrome occurs when blood flows backward through the shunt, causing oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood to mix. This lowers the oxygen level in your blood (cyanosis), and your red blood cell count increases to try to make up for the lack of oxygen.
Eisenmenger syndrome occurs when a congenital heart defect is not treated or detected early enough to be closed before damage to the lung arteries occurs. If you or your child receives a diagnosis of a heart defect, it’s important to start treatment promptly, including having surgeries or procedures to help correct the defect.
A family history of heart defects also increases the risk of a baby being born with a congenital heart defect, including the possibility of developing Eisenmenger syndrome. Talk to your doctor about screening other family members for heart defects if you’ve been diagnosed with a heart defect or Eisenmenger syndrome.
Regular medical treatment and monitoring is important to manage complications of Eisenmenger syndrome, including:
High red blood cell count (erythrocytosis). Because you aren’t getting enough oxygen-rich blood circulating throughout your body, your kidneys release a hormone that increases your number of red blood cells, the cells that carry oxygen throughout your body.
Having too many red blood cells can reduce the blood flow to other organs and increase your risk of developing blood clots.
Arrhythmias. Enlargement and thickening of the walls in the heart, along with low oxygen levels, may cause an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia).
Some types of arrhythmias can cause blood to pool in your heart’s chambers, where it can clot. If the clot travels out of your heart and blocks an artery, you can have a stroke, heart attack or clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
Sudden cardiac arrest. If you develop an arrhythmia as a complication of Eisenmenger syndrome, it’s possible the arrhythmia could suddenly stop your heartbeat.
Cardiac arrest is the sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. Without immediate medical attention, you can die of sudden cardiac arrest in minutes.
You can also go into cardiac arrest during or after surgical procedures, usually related to changes in blood pressure caused by anesthesia.
Stroke. Stroke can occur when a blood clot travels from your heart to your brain. This blood clot may then block a blood vessel in the brain, leading to a stroke.
The high levels of red blood cells in Eisenmenger syndrome also increase your risk of blood clots and stroke.
Eisenmenger syndrome is a life-threatening condition. The prognosis for people diagnosed with Eisenmenger syndrome depends on the type of congenital heart defect and other medical conditions. People who are diagnosed with Eisenmenger syndrome can survive as long as age 60 and sometimes longer.
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Eisenmenger syndrome
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