Congenital Heart Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension

In addition to providing comprehensive care to patients and their families, we are committed to advancing knowledge in the fields of congenital heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, and genetic heart disease.  We have an active research program focusing on the unique physiology of cyanotic congenital heart disease in adults, the relationship between chronic hypoxia and natriuretic peptides, the relationship of pulmonary hypertension and chronic hepatitis C infections, and vascular protection in adults with Down syndrome. Photo: massive left ventricular hypertrophy cavity obliteration secondary to congenital aortic stenosis.

Representative Publications

Hopkins, W. E., Waggoner, A. D.  Right and Left Ventricular Area and Function Determined by Two-Dimensional Echocardiography in Adults With the Eisenmenger Syndrome from a Variety of Congenital Anomalies.  Am J Cardiol 1993;72:90-94.

Hopkins, W.E., Waggoner, A.D., Gussak, H. Quantitative Ultrasonic Tissue Characterization of Myocardium in Cyanotic Adults With an Unrepaired Congenital Heart Defect. Am J Cardiol 1994;74:930-934.

Hopkins, W.E., Waggoner, A.D.  Pulsed Doppler Echocardiographic Evidence of Impaired Left Ventricular Filling in Cyanotic Adults With Nonrestrictive Ventricular Septal Defects With and Without Pulmonary Vascular Obstructive Disease. Am J Cardiol 1995,76:526-527.

Hopkins, WE. Severe Pulmonary Hypertension in Congenital Heart Disease: A Review of Eisenmenger Syndrome.  Current Opinion in Cardiology 1995; 10:517-523.

Hopkins, W.E., Ochoa, L.L., Richardson, G.W., Trulock, E.P. Severe Pulmonary Artery Hypertension:  A Comparison of Hemodynamics and Survival of Adults With Primary Pulmonary Hypertension or Eisenmenger Syndrome. J Heart Lung Transplant; 1996;15:100-105.

Hopkins, W.E., Kelly, D.P.  Usefulness of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors in Adults with Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease. Am J Cardiol 1996,77:439-440.

Hopkins, W.E., Hall, C.  Paradoxical Relationship Between N-Terminal Proatrial Natriuretic Peptide and Filling Pressure in Adults with Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease Circulation 1997; 96:2215-2220.

Hopkins, WE.  Atrial Septal Defect.  Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine. 1999; 1:301-310.

Hopkins, W. E., Sobel, B.E., Schneider, D. J.  Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type 1 in Adults with Down Syndrome and Protection Against Macrovascular Disease. Am J Cardiol 2000,85:784-786.

Hopkins, W.E., Waggoner, A.D.  Severe Pulmonary Hypertension without Right Ventricular Failure: The Unique Hearts of Patients with the Eisenmenger Syndrome. Am J Cardiol 2002;89:34-38.