Unilateral cardiogenic pulmonary edema associated with acute mitral regurgitation.

CASE: Two cases of cardiogenic unilateral pulmonary edema are reported. Both patients presented to the emergency department with dyspnea, and chest radiography revealed unilateral infiltration, which mimics pulmonary disease. However, the patients were diagnosed with cardiogenic pulmonary edema, because echocardiography showed severe mitral regurgitation with an eccentric jet.

OUTCOME: The patients underwent mitral valve replacement and were discharged without complications.

CONCLUSION

Unilateral cardiogenic pulmonary edema is rare, and early diagnosis and treatment are difficult. Delayed treatment leads to high mortality. The major cause of unilateral pulmonary edema is acute mitral regurgitation, and the direction of the jet is suggested as a mechanism of laterality.