Assessment of Pulmonary artery pressure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients without resting hypoxemia

Abstract

hronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease state characterized by progressive airflow limitation, and is associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles or gases, primarily caused by cigarette smoking. Pulmonary hypertension primarily occurs in COPD patients with severe hypoxemia and fortunately it is typically mild. Hypoxemia increases pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) through hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and vascular remodeling, but there is a correlation between lung function parameters and PAP, suggesting that factors other than airway obstruction and/or loss of alveolar surface may play a role in its etiology.