[Hemodynamic changes and their relationship with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in chronic obstructive...

The hemodynamic changes and plasma renin activity (PRA), angiotensin II (ATII), aldosterone (Ald) levels in 38 COPD patients with or without pulmonary hypertension were studied. We found that the right ventricular pressure (RVP), pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and the levels of PRA, ATII, Ald increased significantly in patients with pulmonary hypertension when compared with those not accompanied by pulmonary hypertension. In addition, a close correlation was found between PRA, ATII, Ald and RVP, PAP, PVR. The relationship between ATII and PAP was very remarkable (r = 0.67, P less than 0.001). These findings suggest that the activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) increases in COPD patients with pulmonary hypertension, and may involve in the development of pulmonary hemodynamic changes.