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Copyright 1988, 1989, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006
Synonyms of Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Eisenmenger Complex
- Eisenmenger Disease
- Eisenmenger Physiology
- Eisenmenger Reaction
Disorder Subdivisions
General Discussion
Eisenmenger syndrome is a rare progressive heart condition that develops in some individuals with structural malformations of the heart that are present from birth (congenital heart defects). The disorder is characterized by increased blood pressure in the main blood vessel (pulmonary artery) connecting the heart to the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) and improper blood flow within the heart.
The normal heart has four chambers. The two upper chambers, known as atria, are separated from each other by a fibrous partition known as the atrial septum. The two lower chambers are known as ventricles and are separated from each other by the ventricular septum. Valves connect the atria (left and right) to their respective ventricles. The valves allow for blood to be pumped through the chambers. Blood travels from the right ventricle through the pulmonary artery to the lungs where it receives oxygen. The blood returns to the heart through pulmonary veins and enters the left ventricle. The left ventricle sends the now oxygen-filled blood into the main artery of the body (aorta). The aorta sends the blood throughout the body.
The most common congenital heart defect associated with Eisenmenger syndrome is a ventricular septal defect (VSD) or a “hole in the heart” between the two lower chambers of the heart (left ventricle and right ventricle. This defect allows blood to flow from the left ventricle into the right ventricle (left-to-right shunt). The shunt causes increased blood flow into the lungs eventually resulting in pulmonary hypertension, which causes progressive damage to the small blood vessels in lungs (pulmonary vascular disease). As the damage continues, pulmonary hypertension increases and the small blood vessels become thickened or blocked hampering the flow of blood. Ultimately, blood flow is reversed back through the shunt so that blood flows from the right ventricle into the left ventricle (right-to-left shunt) bypassing the lungs completely. A variety of symptoms including life-threatening complications may occur.
Eisenmenger syndrome specifically refers to the combination of pulmonary hypertension and right-to-left shunting of the blood within the heart.
Organizations related to Eisenmenger Syndrome
- American Heart Association
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas TX 75231-4596
Phone #: 214-373-6300
800 #: 800-242-8721
e-mail: Review.personal.info@heart.org
Home page: http://www.americanheart.org
- American Organ Transplant Association
PO Box 667566
Houston TX 77266-7566
Phone #: 281-996-8799
800 #: --
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.aotaonline.org
- Children's Heart Association for Support and Education
c/o The Cardiac Clinic, Division of Cardiology
The Hospital For Sick Children
555 University Avenue
Toronto
Ontario None M5G 1X8
Phone #: 416-410-2427
800 #: --
e-mail: kidheart@angelfire.com
Home page: http://www.angelfire.com/on/chase/
- Congenital Heart Anomalies, Support, Education, & Resources, Inc. (CHASER, Inc.)
2112 North Wilkins Road
Swanton OH 43558
Phone #: 419-825-5575
800 #: --
e-mail: myer106w@wonder.em.cdc.gov
Home page: http://www.csun.edu/~hcmth011/chaser/chaser-news.html
- Congenital Heart Information Network (C.H.I.N.)
101 N Washington Ave, Suite 1A
101 N Washington Ave, Suite 1A
Margate City NJ 08402-1195
Phone #: 609-822-1572
800 #: --
e-mail: mb@tchin.org
Home page: http://www.tchin.org
- Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
Phone #: 301-251-4925
800 #: 888-205-2311
e-mail: ordr@od.nih.gov
Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/Default.aspx
- Kids With Heart National Association for Children's Heart Disorders, Inc.
P.O Box 12504
Green Bay WI 54307-2504
Phone #: 920-498-0058
800 #: 800-538-5390
e-mail: michelle@kidswithheart.org
Home page: http://www.kidswithheart.org
- Little Hearts, Inc.
P.O. Box 171
110 Court Street, Suite 3A
Cromwell CT 06416
Phone #: 860-635-0006
800 #: 866-435-4673
e-mail: info@littlehearts.org
Home page: http://www.littlehearts.org
- March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains NY 10605
Phone #: 914-997-4488
800 #: 888-663-4637
e-mail: Askus@marchofdimes.com
Home page: http://www.marchofdimes.com
- NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda MD 20824-0105
Phone #: 301-592-8573
800 #: --
e-mail: nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov
Home page: N/A
- National Foundation For Transplants
5350 Poplar Ave
Suite 430
Memphis TN 38119
Phone #: 901-684-1697
800 #: 800-489-3863
e-mail: info@transplants.org
Home page: http://www.transplants.org
- National Transplant Assistance Fund (NTAF)
150 N. Radnor Chester Road
Suite F-120
Radnor PA 19087
Phone #: 610-353-9684
800 #: 800-642-8399
e-mail: NTAF@transplantfund.org
Home page: http://www.transplantfund.org
- Second Wind Lung Transplant Association, Inc.
23609 Talbot
St Clair Shores MI 48082
Phone #: 586-294-3162
800 #: 888-855-9463
e-mail: beanpahoun@aol.com
Home page: http://www.2ndwind.org
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