Pulmonary artery enlargement is associated with right ventricular dysfunction and loss of blood volume in small pulmonary vessels in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease causes significant morbidity and concomitant pulmonary vascular disease and cardiac dysfunction are associated with poor prognosis. Computed tomography-detected relative pulmonary artery (PA) enlargement defined as a PA to ascending aorta diameter ratio >1 (PA:A>1) is a marker for pulmonary hypertension and predicts chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations. However, little is known about the relationship between the PA:A ratio, pulmonary blood volume, and cardiac function.

Methods and results

A single-center prospective cohort study of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was conducted. Clinical characteristics and computed tomography metrics, including the PA:A and pulmonary blood vessel volume, were

SUBMITTER: Wells JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4392846 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature