Skip to main content
PMC home page
Thorax logoLink to Thorax
. 1988 Aug;43(8):621–626. doi: 10.1136/thx.43.8.621

Does right ventricular function predict survival in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease?

A J France 1, R J Prescott 1, W Biernacki 1, A L Muir 1, W MacNee 1
PMCID: PMC461398  PMID: 3175974

Abstract

Non-invasive measurements of the right ventricular ejection fraction by radionuclide ventriculography were made in 115 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. Survival was assessed over a mean period of 918 days. The right ventricular ejection fraction was reasonably normal in most patients (mean 0.42, range 0.10-0.66) but was lower in those with peripheral oedema, indicating cor pulmonale (mean 0.31 (SD 0.07); p less than 0.0001). Right ventricular ejection fraction was related to survival, but the relationship was weak (p = 0.03) by comparison with the association between the arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions and survival (both p less than 0.0001). It is concluded that, although right ventricular function is predictive of survival in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease, it is probably a reflection of severity of disease and does not directly affect the prognosis.

Full text

PDF
623

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Anthonisen N. R., Wright E. C., Hodgkin J. E. Prognosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1986 Jan;133(1):14–20. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1986.133.1.14. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Ashutosh K., Mead G., Dunsky M. Early effects of oxygen administration and prognosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cor pulmonale. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1983 Apr;127(4):399–404. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1983.127.4.399. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Asmundsson T., Kilburn K. H. Survival of acute respiratory failure. A study of 239 episodes. Ann Intern Med. 1969 Mar;70(3):471–485. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-70-3-471. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Boushy S. F., Thompson H. K., Jr, North L. B., Beale A. R., Snow T. R. Prognosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1973 Dec;108(6):1373–1383. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1973.108.6.1373. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Brent B. N., Berger H. J., Matthay R. A., Mahler D., Pytlik L., Zaret B. L. Physiologic correlates of right ventricular ejection fraction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a combined radionuclide and hemodynamic study. Am J Cardiol. 1982 Aug;50(2):255–262. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(82)90174-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Burrows B., Earle R. H. Course and prognosis of chronic obstructive lung disease. A prospective study of 200 patients. N Engl J Med. 1969 Feb 20;280(8):397–404. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196902202800801. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Fishman A. P., Pietra G. G. Primary pulmonary hypertension. Annu Rev Med. 1980;31:421–431. doi: 10.1146/annurev.me.31.020180.002225. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Howard P. Drugs or oxygen for hypoxic cor pulmonale? Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1983 Oct 22;287(6400):1159–1160. doi: 10.1136/bmj.287.6400.1159. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Johnston R. N., McNeill R. S., Smith D. H., Legge J. S., Fletcher F. Chronic bronchitis--measurements and observations over 10 years. Thorax. 1976 Feb;31(1):25–29. doi: 10.1136/thx.31.1.25. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Kawakami Y., Kishi F., Yamamoto H., Miyamoto K. Relation of oxygen delivery, mixed venous oxygenation, and pulmonary hemodynamics to prognosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. N Engl J Med. 1983 May 5;308(18):1045–1049. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198305053081801. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Korr K. S., Gandsman E. J., Winkler M. L., Shulman R. S., Bough E. W. Hemodynamic correlates of right ventricular ejection fraction measured with gated radionuclide angiography. Am J Cardiol. 1982 Jan;49(1):71–77. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(82)90279-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. MITCHELL R. S., WEBB N. C., FILLEY G. F. CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE BRONCHOPULMONARY DISEASE. III. FACTORS INFLUENCING PROGNOSIS. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1964 Jun;89:878–896. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1964.89.6.878. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. MacNee W., Xue Q. F., Hannan W. J., Flenley D. C., Adie C. J., Muir A. L. Assessment by radionuclide angiography of right and left ventricular function in chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Thorax. 1983 Jul;38(7):494–500. doi: 10.1136/thx.38.7.494. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Morrison D. A., Henry R., Goldman S. Preliminary study of the effects of low flow oxygen on oxygen delivery and right ventricular function in chronic lung disease. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1986 Mar;133(3):390–395. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1986.133.3.390. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Postma D. S., Burema J., Gimeno F., May J. F., Smit J. M., Steenhuis E. J., Weele L. T., Sluiter H. J. Prognosis in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1979 Mar;119(3):357–367. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1979.119.3.357. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Renzetti A. D., Jr, McClement J. H., Litt B. D. The Veterans Administration cooperative study of pulmonary function. 3. Mortality in relation to respiratory function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Med. 1966 Jul;41(1):115–129. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(66)90009-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Timms R. M., Khaja F. U., Williams G. W. Hemodynamic response to oxygen therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ann Intern Med. 1985 Jan;102(1):29–36. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-102-1-29. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Traver G. A., Cline M. G., Burrows B. Predictors of mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A 15-year follow-up study. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1979 Jun;119(6):895–902. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1979.119.6.895. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Weitzenblum E., Loiseau A., Hirth C., Mirhom R., Rasaholinjanahary J. Course of pulmonary hemodynamics in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chest. 1979 Jun;75(6):656–662. doi: 10.1378/chest.75.6.656. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Xue Q. F., MacNee W., Flenley D. C., Hannan W. J., Adie C. J., Muir A. L. Can right ventricular performance be assessed by equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography? Thorax. 1983 Jul;38(7):486–493. doi: 10.1136/thx.38.7.486. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Thorax are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES