My diagnosis includes a small patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) of 2.8 mm with a left-to-right shunt, a small patent foramen ovale (PFO) with a left-to-right shunt, and mild dilation of the left atrium and ventricle. Is this related to PAH?
A small PDA and PFO with left-to-right shunts can increase blood flow to the lungs, which over time may raise pressure in the pulmonary arteries and contribute to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Mild enlargement of the left atrium and ventricle may occur as a result, but these changes alone do not confirm PAH. Your doctor or cardiologist can monitor your heart and lung pressures to determine whether PAH is developing.