"Primary" Pulmonary Hypertension And Raynaud's Phenomenon

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Abstract
Primary pulmonary hypertension, a term introduced by Dresdale et al in 1951, was postulated to be linked etiologically to sympathetic overactivity.1 Since then, as additional cases have been reported, there has been diversity of opinion as to the clinical and pathological criteria to be established for this entity. Wade and Ball suggested that cases of unexplained pulmonary hypertension may not be etiologically homogeneous either clinically or pathologically.2 Little has been published since then to refute this opinion. However, the occasional report of Raynaud's phenomenon in association with primary pulmonary hypertension renews the interest in a neurohumoral mechanism which might be operating in some cases. The recent discussion of such a case by Bird and Vickery prompted us to review and report a similar case seen by us in this past year and to review the clinical and histologic findings in the other cases in which this association is