Configuration of Elastic Tissue of Pulmonary Trunk in Idiopathic Pulmonary Hypertension

Abstract

A study was made of the configuration of the elastic tissue of the pulmonary trunk in 6 cases of idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. The ages of the patients ranged from 12 to 54 years. The pattern was that of the adult pulmonary type in the 5 female patients, whereas it more closely resembled the fetal, aorta-like type in the single male patient. These data are interpreted as indicating that idiopathic pulmonary hypertension is acquired in most cases but that it may be present from birth in a minority of instances.