[Functional evaluation of the left ventricle in chronic pulmonary heart disease]

20 patients (18 m., 2 f., age 64.8 +/- 6.3 years), with chronic pulmonary heart disease (CPHD) secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and/or arterial hypertension were studied in comparison with a control group of subjects, age and sex matched, with normal respiratory function tests and without heart disease. CPHD patients did not show any difference of left ventricle (LV) systolic function, assessed by echocardiography, in comparison with the control group. However, among CPHD patients, significant correlations were found between lower arterial pH and cardiac output/m2 and between spirometric tests of bronchial obstruction and echocardiographic parameters of LV function. These results confirm that LV function in CPHD is maintained if other pathologic conditions are absent. On the other hand, correlations between echocardiography and spirometry and blood gas analysis strengthen the functional interdependence concept between left and right heart chambers.