DIASTOLIC DYSFUNCTION OF THE LEFT VENTRICLE IN THE PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE AND COR PULMONALE ECHO DOPPLER EVALUATION

Abstract

Cor pulmonale is a serious and long-term disease. The most imoportant etiologic factor is COPD. Patients with COPD and the right ventricle (RV) hypertrophy, besides diastolic dysfunction of RV, had disturbances in diastolic characteristics of the left ventricle (LV), which was the result of hypertrophy of the left ventricle and the common septum. The aim of the study was to investigate diastolic function of the LV in two groups of COPD patients with or without cor pulmonale by using the Doppler ultrasound echocardiography. In the third group of patients with severe airway obstruction and respiratory failure, we found changed parameters of an early and late diastolic charging with presentation of the refilling model of extended relaxastion. We want to show that in patients with COPD, besides the RV hyperthrophy, there is the LV hyperthrophy, which confirms the fact about functional and anatomical relation of the RV and LV. We also showed that the left atrial hyperthrophy occurs due to the extended LV relaxation. An early and timely finding of the LV diastolic dysfunction in COPD patients could be significant in clinical practice, since it may be impaired during the disease, which leads to pulmonary congestion. Therefore, the early diagnosis and treatment of the LV diastolic dysfunction is essential for COPD patients.

Keywords

• diastolic dysfunction
• left ventricle
• COPD
• echocardiography