Pulmonary hypertension and regional functions of lungs in patients with bronchial asthma

Abstract

In 224 patients with bronchial asthma of heavy and moderate degree the central hemodynamics and respiration were examined. In 47 patients and 17 healthy subjects from the control groups regional functions of lungs were studied. Following the increase of the pulmonary insufficiency (PI) degree the systolic pressure in pulmonary arteria (SPPA) did not increase significantly. In 32 patients (14% of total number) pulmonary hypertension with pressure higher than 35 mm HG was found. The work of the right ventricle in patients with SPPA higher than 35 mm HG was higher nonsignificanly (over 16.5%) than the one in the control group. Following the SPPA increase ventilation perfusion ratios were improved in high West’s zones. The obtained data allows to consider pulmonary hypertension as the compensatory mechanism during bronchial asthma allowing to include reserve zones (high West’s zones in general) into the gase exchange process.