What condition is characterized by a late cyanotic shunt associated with pulmonary hypertension?

Prepare for USMLE Step 1 Pathology Exam with comprehensive quizzes, flashcards, and detailed explanations. Enhance your understanding and be exam-ready!

Eisenmenger's syndrome is characterized by a late cyanotic shunt that results from the development of pulmonary hypertension secondary to a left-to-right shunt, often from congenital heart defects such as ventricular septal defects or atrial septal defects. Over time, increased blood flow to the lungs causes pulmonary vascular resistance to rise, eventually reversing the shunt direction to a right-to-left shunt. This allows deoxygenated blood to bypass the lungs and enter systemic circulation, leading to cyanosis.

In the context of this question, the presence of pulmonary hypertension and subsequent late cyanotic shunting distinctly identifies Eisenmenger's syndrome as the correct condition. Other options, such as patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect, and ventricular septal defect, can cause left-to-right shunting and initial increased pulmonary blood flow but do not necessarily lead to the right-to-left shunt with cyanosis unless pulmonary hypertension and its associated complications develop significantly as seen in Eisenmenger's phenomenon.

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