Effect of bronchodilators on pulmonary hypertension in COPD patients

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension and chronic cor pulmonale are the most important consequences of bronchial obstruction in COPD. Effects of typical bronchodilating therapy on the pulmonary artery haemodynamics are quite uncertain.

The aim of this study was to search effects of long-term inhaled bronchodilating therapy on the pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in patient with COPD. The study involved 60 patients with 2 to 3 stage COPD and pulmonary artery pressure (PA P) higher than 20 mm Hg treated with Berodual 2 doses 4 times daily for 24 weeks. When having FEV₁ less that 50 % of predicted values, patients received the drug via a nebulizer. The main COPD symptoms (cough, sputum, dyspnoea, wheesing) were scored. We also used spirometry, chest X- ray, ECG and Doppler echocardiography.

On the 24-week therapy the main symptoms reduced from 7.6 ± 0.4 до 1.6 ± 0.2 numbers (p < 0.05), the PAH dropped from 32.3 ± 0.8 до 23.2 ± 1.2 mm Hg (p < 0.05). The ECG and the chest X-ray examination appeared to be not quite valuable to detect PAH. Therefore, the Doppler echocardiography is thought to be used to diagnose PAH in COPD. As far as the long-term bronchodilating therapy resulted in the PAP decrease, it should be included to an algorithm of managing COPD patients with PAH.