Imaging techniques for assessing cardiovascular performance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

A variety of imaging techniques are now available for evaluating cardiovascular function. Plain chest radiographs, radionuclide angiocardiography, 201Tl myocardial imaging, and M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography have been used to detect pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular enlargement, and occult ventricular performance disturbances in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Furthermore, radionuclide angiocardiography and echocardiography combined with hemodynamic measurements have been used to assess short- and long-term cardiovascular effects of such therapeutic agents as theophylline, beta-adrenergics, vasodilators, digitalis, and oxygen. This review evaluates these imaging techniques and their application to COPD patients.