[Coronary blood flow function in patients with chronic postembolic pulmonary hypertension]

Variations in coronary blood flow and cardiac output were studied using dopplerography throughout rationed exercise in 16 patients with chronic postembolic pulmonary hypertension. All patients showed reduced coronary flow during exercise, an evidence of early signs of coronary insufficiency. A correlation was demonstrated between coronary flow disorders and the severity of pulmonary hypertension, the extent of pulmonary vascular bed lesion and right-ventricular hypertrophy.