Pulmonary Hypertension as a Complication of Pediatric Cancer

Abstract

Pediatric cancer is a life threatening disease known to create multi-organ complications that further compromise medical management affecting patient morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is becoming more recognized as a complication of cancer and its therapies but has not been well characterized in pediatrics. Cancer pathophysiology can be uniquely set up to promote pulmonary vascular injury and remodeling that is similar to PH patients without cancer. This highlights the need to evaluate for PH clinically and with routine testing such as echocardiography during the course of a patient’s care even into adulthood. This review article will discuss the direct, indirect and therapy related aspects of cancer which can promote PH in these patients. This understanding is essential to target effective treatment options in a potentially fatal complication. Diagnostic and treatment algorithms are presented in relation to the most recent pediatric PH management guidelines.