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.