Clinical case analysis of novel coronavirus pneumonia complicated with pulmonary hypertension

Objective: To report the clinical features of pulmonary hypertension diagnosed by echocardiography in 5 patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) in order to understand the special clinical manifestations of COVID-19 and explore the possible mechanism. Method(s): The echocardiographic data and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients complicated with pulmonary hypertension diagnosed by echocardiography in Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University were analyzed descriptively from February 5 to March 31, 2020. Result(s): A total of 15 patients with severe and critical COVID-19 patients underwent echocardiography. Of them, 7 patients were diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, 5 of which were confirmed as complications of COVID-19. Among the 5 patients, 4 were female and 1 was male, aged 62-78 years;4 were with hypertension, 3 were with diabetes, and 1 was with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. All 5 critically ill patients with COVID-19 were given ventilator-assisted breathing, 2 of which were given extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at the same time. According to echocardiography, the systolic pressure of pulmonary artery in 5 patients was 43-65 mmHg, with an average of 54 mmHg. The severity of pulmonary hypertension was graded as mild in 1 patient and moderate in 4 patients. During the follow-up, pulmonary artery systolic pressure gradually decreased to normal in 4 patients, and then ventilator and ECMO were withdrawn;1 patient died due to respiratory failure and persistent pulmonary hypertension. Conclusion(s): Patients with COVID-19 may be complicated by pulmonary hypertension, which is often found in the critical patients. Echocardiography is an important imagingdiagnostic method for pulmonary hypertension in patients with COVID-19.Copyright © 2020 by the Chinese Medical Association.