Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Obstruction of the Intrapulmonary Veins.

Organic obstruction of the pulmonary veins is a rare cause of hypertension in the lesser circulation. Rhomberg in 1891 (quoted by Biirki (1963)) suggested that right ventricular hypertrophy might be due to disturbances in the pulmonary veins, but little note was taken of pulmonary vein lesions producing cor pulmonale until the 1930s when Hora (1934) and Mallory (1937) each described a single case. Others have been described since, and the literature was reviewed by Biirki in 1963. The present case is presented because of the growing interest in and awareness of the condition, because the diagnosis was suggested by biopsy during life, and because a possible clue to the cause is suggested.