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Updated: Apr 29, 2026

Left Atrial Stenosis Induced Pulmonary Venous Arterialization and Group 2 Pulmonary Hypertension in Rat
Published on: November 18, 2018
An adult with a sinus venosus atrial septal defect and dilated cardiomyopathy
Luke Oakley1, Sean Foley2, Justin Cox1
1Department of Cardiology, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California, USA.
Insights
A rare combination of dilated cardiomyopathy and atrial septal defect in an adult was managed with a left ventricular assist device. The atrial septal defect may have initially protected the patient from heart failure symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and atrial septal defects are common individually but rarely co-occur.
- Increased survival of congenital heart disease patients into adulthood leads to more complex adult cardiology cases.
Observation:
- A 32-year-old man presented with dilated cardiomyopathy and a sinus venosus-type atrial septal defect.
- He exhibited a significant pulmonary to systemic flow ratio of 5:1.
- The atrial septal defect potentially acted as a 'pop-off' valve, mitigating pulmonary congestion and heart failure symptoms.
Findings:
- The patient's condition did not respond to standard medical therapy for dilated cardiomyopathy.
- A left ventricular assist device was ultimately implanted due to disease progression.
- The unique pathophysiology of this combined condition was explored.
Implications:
- This case highlights the evolving landscape of adult congenital heart disease.
- Understanding the interplay between atrial septal defects and dilated cardiomyopathy is crucial for managing complex cardiac conditions.
- Further research into such rare combinations can refine treatment strategies.
Abstract:
Dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure and atrial septal defects are well-recognised entities in isolation, but are rarely seen together. Now that 90% of children with congenital heart disease survive into adulthood, such combinations of disease are increasingly seen in adult cardiology. While most young patients with dilated cardiomyopathy respond well to medical therapy, some do not, and require more invasive management. We describe a 32 year-old man with dilated cardiomyopathy and a sinus venosus-type atrial septal defect associated with a remarkable pulmonary to systemic flow ratio of 5:1. We propose that the atrial septal defect blunted his heart failure symptoms by serving as a 'pop-off' valve and limiting pulmonary congestion. The patient ultimately failed medical management and received a left ventricular assist device. The case is presented along with a discussion of this unique pathophysiology and a brief review of the literature in this rapidly evolving field.
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