Lung function and stress echocardiography in pulmonary arterial hypertension

a cross-sectional study

Authors

Keywords:

Hypertension, pulmonary, Capnography, Respiratory function test, Hypocapnia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The mechanism of exercise limitation in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is not fully understood. The role of hemodynamic alterations is well recognized, but mechanical, ventilatory and gasometric factors may also contribute to reduction of exercise capacity in these individuals. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there is an association between ventilatory pattern and stress Doppler echocardiography (SDE) variables in IPAH patients. DESIGN AND SETTING: Single-center prospective study conducted in a Brazilian university hospital. METHODS: We included 14 stable IPAH patients and 14 age and sex-matched controls. Volumetric capnography (VCap), spirometry, six-minute walk test and SDE were performed on both the patients and the control subjects. Arterial blood gases were collected only from the patients. The IPAH patients and control subjects were compared with regard to the abovementioned variables. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 38.4 years, and 78.6% were women. The patients showed hypocapnia, and in spirometry 42.9% presented forced vital capacity (FVC) below the lower limit of normality. In VCap, IPAH patients had higher respiratory rates (RR) and lower elimination of CO2 in each breath. There was a significant correlation between reduced FVC and the magnitude of increases in tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV). In IPAH patients, VCap showed similar tidal volumes and a higher RR, which at least partially explained the hypocapnia. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with IPAH showed hypocapnia, probably related to their higher respiratory rate with preserved tidal volumes; FVC was reduced and this reduction was positively correlated with cardiac output.

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Author Biographies

Guilherme Casagrande de Almeida, Universidade Estadual de Campinas

PT, MSc. Physiotherapist and Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Paulista University, Campinas (SP), Brazil.

Mônica Corso Pereira, Universidade Estadual de Campinas

MD, PhD. Professor, Discipline of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences (FCM), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil.

Marcos Mello Moreira, Universidade Estadual de Campinas

PT, PhD. Physiotherapist, Discipline of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, and Professor of Postgraduate Program on Surgical Sciences, School of Medical Sciences (FCM), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil.

José Roberto Matos Souza, Universidade Estadual de Campinas

MD, PhD. Professor, Discipline of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences (FCM), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil.

Ilma Aparecida Paschoal, Universidade Estadual de Campinas

MD, PhD. Full Professor, Discipline of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences (FCM), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil.

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Published

2021-09-02

How to Cite

1.
Almeida GC de, Pereira MC, Moreira MM, Souza JRM, Paschoal IA. Lung function and stress echocardiography in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a cross-sectional study. Sao Paulo Med J [Internet]. 2021 Sep. 2 [cited 2025 Mar. 12];139(5):505-10. Available from: https://periodicosapm.emnuvens.com.br/spmj/article/view/522

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