Title of article :
Comparison of the Factors Influencing Pulmonary Arterial Pressure in Smoker and Non-smoker COPD Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension
Author/Authors :
Halvani, Abolhasan Department of Internal Medicine - School of Medicine - Islamic Azad University Yazd Medical Science Branch, Iran , Haddad, Hamidreza Department of Internal Medicine - Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Abstract :
Background: There are several prognostic factors in patients with Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) that include Forced expiratory volume
in one second (FEV1), Body Mass Index (BMI), dyspnea severity, exercise
capacity and Pulmonary Hypertension (PH). PH is one of the most important
factors. PH pathogenesis in patients with COPD has not been clarified
thoroughly and factors such as alveolar hypoxemia, polycythemia, acidosis and
pulmonary vessels obstruction have been suggested. The authors assessed some
of these contributing factors in smoker and non-smoker patients with COPD.
Materials and Methods: This comparative-descriptive study included COPD
patients suspected to have cor pulmonale without exacerbation in the last four
weeks. Echocardiographic evaluation of Pulmonary Arterial Pressure (PAP)
was done and Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) was defined as systolic
Pulmonary Arterial Pressure (PAP) greater than 40 mmHg. Complete Blood
Count (CBC) and Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) were also studied in all patients.
Results: Echocardiography was done for 142 patients who were suspected to
have PH and 110 patients had measurable PAP. All of the patients were in stage
II - IV of COPD according to GOLD criteria. 90 patients had PH of which 47
were smokers and 43 were non-smokers. In smoker patients, significant
correlation between PAP and PaO2 was seen (r=-0.291, p-value=0.047). But in
non-smoker patients, this correlation was absent. A significant correlation
between PAP and FEV1 (r=-0.341, P value=0.025) was seen in non-smoker
patients. This correlation was absent in smoker patients. There was no
correlation between PAP and hemoglobin, hemoglobin and FEV, and also PaO2
and FEV1 in smoker and non-smoker COPD patients.
Conclusion: In non-smoker patients with COPD, degree of pulmonary
parenchymal lesions and bronchial obliteration plays a more important role
than hypoxia in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension.
Keywords :
Pulmonary hypertension , Smoker , COPD , Non-smoker
Journal title :
Tanaffos (Respiration)