[Assessment of pulmonary hemodynamics in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis]

Pulmonary hemodynamics were assessed in 52 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis of which 25 were confirmed histopathologically. The study group consisted of 26 males and 26 females, of a mean age of 41 +/- 15 years. Pulmonary function studies revealed restrictive changes and increased elastic recoil. Mean vital capacity was 2.6 +/- 1.2 L, compliance - static 97 +/- 59 ml/cm H2O, dynamic 71 +/- 50 ml/cm H2O. Esophageal pressure was - 8.0 +/- 5.3 mm Hg. Mean pulmonary artery pressure was slightly elevated - 22.6 +/- 8.3 mm Hg. Transmural pulmonary pressure was 31.3 +/- 9.8 mm Hg, cardiac output was 7.6 +/- 3.8 L/min, pulmonary resistance 206 +/- 119 dyn sec cm-5. A mild hypoxemia was observed--PaO2 71.8 +/- 13.3 mm Hg. In part of the study group (27 subjects) the response to exercise was assessed. A mean increase of pulmonary artery pressure from 20.4 +/- 7.2 to 38.0 +/- 14.7 mm Hg and a decrease of PaO2 from 74.2 +/- 11.7 mm Hg to 62.5 +/- 15.3 mm Hg were found. Negative correlation was found between mean artery pulmonary pressure and arterial oxygen partial pressure, vital capacity and one-second forced expiratory volume, and a higher correlation between mean transmural pulmonary pressure and PaO2, VC, FEV1 and Cdyn.