Pulmonary function in advanced pulmonary hypertension.

C M Burke, A R Glanville, A J Morris, D Rubin, J A Harvey, J Theodore, E D Robin

Division of Respiratory Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, California.

Pulmonary mechanical function and gas exchange were studied in 33 patients with advanced pulmonary vascular disease, resulting from primary pulmonary hypertension in 18 cases and from Eisenmenger physiology in 15 cases. Evidence of airway obstruction was found in most patients. In addition, mean total lung capacity (TLC) was only 81.5% of predicted and 27% of our subjects had values of TLC less than one standard deviation below the mean predicted value. The mean value for transfer factor (TLCO) was 71.8% of predicted and appreciable arterial hypoxaemia was present, which was disproportionate to the mild derangements in pulmonary mechanics. Patients with Eisenmenger physiology had significantly lower values of arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) (p less than 0.05) and of maximum mid expiratory flow (p less than 0.05) and significantly higher pulmonary arterial pressure (p less than 0.05) than those with primary pulmonary hypertension, but no other variables were significantly different between the two subpopulations. It is concluded that advanced pulmonary vascular disease in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension and Eisenmenger physiology is associated not only with severe hypoxaemia but also with altered pulmonary mechanical function.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Kahler, C. M. (2009). Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension as a cause of dyspnoea in an older patient with a complex history. ERR 18: 170-173 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Suntharalingam, J., Machado, R. D, Sharples, L. D, Toshner, M. R, Sheares, K. K, Hughes, R. J, Jenkins, D. P, Trembath, R. C, Morrell, N. W, Pepke-Zaba, J. (2007). Demographic features, BMPR2 status and outcomes in distal chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Thorax 62: 617-622 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• van der Lee, I., Zanen, P., Grutters, J. C., Snijder, R. J., van den Bosch, J. M.M. (2006). Diffusing capacity for nitric oxide and carbon monoxide in patients with diffuse parenchymal lung disease and pulmonary arterial hypertension.. Chest 129: 378-383 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Mukerjee, D., St. George, D., Knight, C., Davar, J., Wells, A. U., Du Bois, R. M., Black, C. M., Coghlan, J. G. (2004). Echocardiography and pulmonary function as screening tests for pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 43: 461-466 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Meyer, F J, Ewert, R, Hoeper, M M, Olschewski, H, Behr, J, Winkler, J, Wilkens, H, Breuer, C, Kubler, W, Borst, M M (2002). Peripheral airway obstruction in primary pulmonary hypertension. Thorax 57: 473-476 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• SANDOVAL, J., ALVARADO, P., MARTINEZ-GUERRA, M. L., GOMEZ, A., PALOMAR, A., MEZA, S., SANTOS, E., ROSAS, M. (1999). Effect of Body Position Changes on Pulmonary Gas Exchange in Eisenmenger's Syndrome. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 159: 1070-1073 [Abstract] [Full Text]