[Pulmonary hypertension in interstitial diseases of the lungs]

Clinical, functional, immunological and x-ray examinations were performed in 32 patients with interstitial pulmonary diseases (14 with idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis, 6 with exogenic allergic alveolitis and 12 with diffuse affection of the connective tissue). The diagnosis was verified using high resolution computed tomography. Lesser circulation was studied with doppler-echocardiography. In 9 patients the diagnosis was verified by thoracoscopic biopsy of the lung. Control group consisted of 16 healthy subjects. The highest pressure in the trunk of the pulmonary artery (31 +/- 4.3 mmHg) was registered in patients with idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis. The severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension correlated with that of respiratory disorders, clinical symptoms and changes in the lungs. Blood pressure in the pulmonary artery trunk tended to elevation with progression of alterations in the lungs registered by computed tomography.