How to measure peripheral pulmonary vascular mechanics.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is initially a disease of the small, peripheral resistance arteries. Changes in these vessels are best assessed by measurement of pulmonary artery pressure at several levels of flow to generate multi-point pressure-flow curves. This approach is superior to the traditional single-point measurement of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) because it allows a flow-independent definition of the resistive properties of that portion of the pulmonary vascular bed and also provides information on its distensibility. In animal models, multi-point pressure-flow curves can be obtained using an isolated, ventilated, perfused lung system. Clinically, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) with non-invasive echocardiography is feasible and provides realistic values of the resistance and peripheral compliance. Together, these values can be used to better understand and screen for PH and exercise-induced PH.
Chesler
Naomi C
NC
Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA. chesler@engr.wisc.edu
Argiento
Paola
P
Vanderpool
Rebecca
R
D'Alto
Michele
M
Naeije
Robert
R
D000818:Animals; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D014655:Vascular Resistance