Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR) in a Patient with Sjogren's Syndrome

ABSTRACT

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a rare manifestation in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) and it can occur with or without interstitial lung disease (ILD). Patients with PH and ILD who show signs of exacerbation of dyspnea are commonly assessed for pure PH aggravation, ILD progression or pulmonary infection. However, the presence of congenital cardiac anomalies, such as partial anomalous pulmonary vein return (PAPVR), can also be a cause of dyspnea exacerbation. PAPVR is a rare congenital anomaly that involves drainage of 1 to 3 pulmonary veins into the right-sided heart circulation, resulting in a partial left-to-right shunt. Here we present a case of PAPVR as the cause of PH aggravation in a patient with pSS with accompanying PH.