Abstract

Histopathological investigation of lung biopsies on pulmonary vascular changes from 68 patients with congenital heart diseases and 58 with acquired heart diseases were made. Used specimens were examined at the Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, during a period of 10 years from 1965 to 1974. The progression of vascular changes in lung biopsies were so stereotyped as to allow a division of structural effects into six grades regarding as Heath and Edwards method. Author observed various gradational changes of pulmonary vascular lesions, ranging from almost normal looking to marked medial hypertrophy with intimal fibrosis and plexiform or angiomatous dilatation lesions. Intimal fibrosis was thought to be based on organization of thrombi. One case of necrotizing angitis was revealed in a patient with patent ductus arteriosus. Severity of pulmonary vascular lesions of lung biopsies from patient with acquired heart diseases was more prominent than those from patient with congenital heart diseases. And no particular relationships to sex was made from both groups of heart diseases, but age had statistically significant relationship to those severity especially inpatient group with congenital heart diseases (r=0.39, p<0. 01).