title: Right ventricular dysfunction in chronic lung disease.
abstract: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction arises in chronic lung disease when chronic hypoxemia and disruption of pulmonary vascular beds increase ventricular afterload. RV dysfunction is defined by hypertrophy with preserved myocardial contractility and cardiac output. RV hypertrophy seems to be a common complication of chronic and advanced lung disease. RV failure is rare, except during acute exacerbations of chronic lung disease or when multiple comorbidities are present. Treatment is targeted at correcting hypoxia and improving pulmonary gas exchange and mechanics. There are no data supporting the use of pulmonary hypertension-specific therapies for patients with RV dysfunction secondary to chronic lung disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, 1830 East Monument Street, 5th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Todd M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Kolb
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hassoun
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D010100:Oxygen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D019141:Respiratory System Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D019141:Respiratory System Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010100:Oxygen