[Perfusion lung scintigraphy in primary pulmonary hypertension].

Fifteen cases with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) were classified into two groups by using the perfusion lung scan pattern. Eight cases had multiple, small, ill-defined defects (mottled pattern), and remaining seven cases had no mottled pattern. These two groups were compared with mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mean PAP), right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF), blood gas at room air (PaO2), and alveolar-arterial O2 difference (A-aDo2). The cases with mottled pattern showed a significant increase in mean PAP. There were no significant differences in RVEF, PaO2, and A-aDo2, between the groups. The survival rate of the patients with mottled pattern was significantly lower than that without mottled pattern (p less than 0.05). We concluded that perfusion lung scan is very useful for evaluation of the prognosis in primary pulmonary hypertension.