Options For Treating Eisenmenger Syndrome

Eisenmenger syndrome is a complication of a congenital heart problem and is usually caused when there is a hole between the two chambers of the heart. Because of this, the blood cannot circulate normally, and blood flows into the lungs that should circulate the rest of the patient's body. This damages the arteries in the lungs and increases the pressure in them to the point where the blood flow is reversed. Because of this, oxygen-starved, as opposed to oxygen-rich, blood circulates around the individual's organs.

The person has a bluish cast to their skin, clubbed finger and toenails, chest pain, heart palpitations, and numbness and tingling in their extremities. They are also subject to fainting, fatigue, dizziness, and headaches. Eisenmenger syndrome patients also cough up blood and have abdominal swelling.

Iron Supplements

Doctors often recommend iron supplements to patients who have Eisenmenger syndrome and whose iron levels are low. People may wonder why these patients need iron supplements as opposed to other types of supplements that can support their health. The one thing about iron is it's the mineral that helps bring oxygen to the cells, which is something individuals with Eisenmenger syndrome desperately need. Iron makes up hemoglobin, a pigment in red blood cells that actually carries oxygen. The supplements, which can come in tablets or as a liquid, need to be taken under a doctor's supervision, as too much iron is toxic. This is especially true for children.

Vasodilators

These are medications that cause the blood vessels to open, resulting in a reduction in the pressure in the arteries to the lungs, better circulation of blood, and better respiration in both lungs. Vasodilators given to patients with Eisenmenger syndrome both extend their lives and improve the quality of their lives. There are different types of medicines to ease the pulmonary hypertension that accompanies Eisenmenger syndrome. One of them is oxygen. The lack of oxygen, or hypoxemia, causes blood vessels to narrow, while oxygen therapy causes them to open. Other vasodilators are calcium channel blockers that stop the movement of calcium ions into the smooth muscle cells of the arteries and allow them to relax and open up. Another medication that helps blood vessels dilate is nitric oxide gas.