The degree of exercise hypoxemia reflects pulmonary artery pressure during early exercise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
The causes of both exertional pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary hypertension in general in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain to be elucidated. To further understand the pathophysiology in COPD patients, it may be important to recognize the existence of exertional pulmonary hypertension and to determine the severity of exertional hypoxemia. However, little is known about their relationship. To investigate whether the severity of exertional hypoxemia, as evaluated by the Deltaartery oxygen tension/Deltaoxygen consumption (PaO(2)-slope) correlates with the mean pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa), cardiopulmonary exercise testing with haemodynamics was done in 10 patients with moderate to very severe COPD. The PaO(2)-slope was significantly correlated with the mean Ppa from 25% to 40% of the maximum Watts (Wmax), and was most significant at 30% Wmax (r = -0.904, P<0.0001). In this phase, all parameters, except for the mean Ppa and the mixed venous oxygen tension, were not markedly changed from resting levels. At 30% Wmax, the mean Ppa (mean, 27 mmHg) with no or mild hypoxemia was also significantly correlated with the Deltaartery oxygen saturation/Deltaoxygen consumption (SpO(2)-slope) (r = -0.789, P = 0.004). On stepwise multiple regression analysis, the PaO(2)-slope was the most significant predictor of mean Ppa at 30% Wmax. In conclusion, the PaO(2)-slope and the SpO(2)-slope reflect Ppa during the early exercise phase. Thus, assessment of these parameters could be useful to evaluate the cardiopulmonary haemodynamic pathophysiology of COPD patients.
Miki
Keisuke
K
Department of Internal medicine, National Hospital Organization Toneyama National Hospital, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan. mikisuke@toneyama.go.jp
Maekura
Ryoji
R
Hiraga
Toru
T
Hirotani
Athushi
A
Hashimoto
Hisako
H
Kitada
Seigo
S
Miki
Mari
M
Yoshimura
Kenji
K
Naka
Nobuyuki
N
Motone
Masaharu
M
D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002302:Cardiac Output; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index