Absent pulmonary valve syndrome with intact ventricular septum: Role of ductus arteriosus revisited

We report two patients (four and twelve days old respectively) with heart failure due to absent pulmonary valve and patent ductus arteriosus. The ductus arteriosus in both patients had unusual course arising early from the aortic arch and maintaining an acute angle with the aortic arch. The etiology of absent pulmonary valve syndrome is still not clear. We speculate on the role of arterial duct in the development of absent pulmonary valve syndrome. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.