The right ventricle in pulmonary disease.
Abnormal pulmonary function that causes pulmonary artery hypertension increases right ventricular work. To compensate, the right ventricle enlarges, and cor pulmonale develops. Right ventricular failure occurs when these adaptive mechanisms cannot compensate for the hemodynamic burden. The various pulmonary diseases that are associated with right ventricular overload and the physiologic responses of the right ventricle to increased afterload are discussed in this article.
Schulman
D S
DS
Department of Medicine, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh.
Matthay
R A
RA
D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000503:physiopathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000502:physiology; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D011660:Pulmonary Heart Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000502:physiology*