Causes of pulmonary hypertension among children

Report of Pulmonary hypertension in the Arab country is limited. We carried out a retrospective chart review of all referred patients to pulmonary clinic with documented Pulmonary Hypertension based on cardiac catheterization and or Echocardiogram during 2 years period (March 2008 to February 2010). Our aim is to identify the different causes of Pulmonary Hypertension and treatment modalities in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia and their outcomes. A total of 114 patients with confirmed Pulmonary Hypertension. Mean age at diagnosis 3.1. 55 (48%) males, 59 (52%) females. The most common causes of Pulmonary Hypertension were: Congenital Heart Disease in 100 (87.7%) patients. Others were: Congenital anomalies in 100 (87.7%). Down Syndrome in 44 (38.5%). Unknown syndrome in 32 patients (28%). 11 patients (10%) due to congenital lung anomalies. 11 patients (10%) due to Chronic Lung Disease, 2 patients due to living in high altitude, 2 patients with obesity, 2 patients with Alagile syndrome, and 2 patients with idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Factors that are related to development of Pulmonary Hypertension at presentation were: Common AtrioVentricular Canal (P value = 0.05), Obstructive sleep apnea (P value = 0.02), a female sex (P value =0.05). Factors that contributed to persistence of Pulmonary Hypertension at Follow up were: presence Congenital Heart Disease (P value=.05), unclosed Atrial Septal Defect (P value = 0.03)