[Changes in the lesser circulation vessels in chronic nonspecific lung diseases]

Clinicomorphological study of the pulmonary circulation vessels was performed in 20 patients with bronchiectatic disease without right ventricle hypertrophy and in 14 patients with chronic bronchitis complicated with pulmonary heart. Pathology data of persons dying from diseases other than vitium cordis and lung diseases were used as control. Morphological signs of pulmonary hypertension are found in all cases of chronic nonspecific lung diseases. The most pronounced changes develop in the vascular segment starting from arterioles and up to the arteries of muscle type with the diameter of 400 microns. The dependence of the pulmonary arteries changes on the type of lung disease is established. Pathological changes in the walls of the pulmonary circulation vessels, in parallel with pronounced compensatory alterations, are found in cases complicated with pulmonary heart.