The relationship between pulmonary arterial enlargement and pulmonary function in COPD patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between pulmonary arterial(PA) enlargement and pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods From December 2012 to June 2016, 78 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD in the Eighth People's Hospital of Qingdao were selected.According to pulmonary CT findings, they were divided into two groups: PA enlargement group(38 cases) was PA>3.0cm, normal PA group(40 cases) was PA≤3.0cm.FEV1 and FVC of stable phase were compared. Results The FEV1 of men in the A enlargement group was (1.08±0.44)L, that in the normal PA group was (1.44±0.66)L, the difference was statistically significant (t=2.27, P=0.028). The FEV1 of women in the PA enlargement group was (0.90±0.41)L, which in the normal PA group was (1.35±0.58)L, the difference was statistically significant (t=2.28, P=0.026). Correlation analysis showed that the diameter of PA was negatively related with FEV1/FVC(r=-0.509, P=0.001), PA enlargement was related with lung function decline. Conclusion COPD patients with PA enlargement are more associated with accelerated loss of lung function and should be treated early. Key words: Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive; Respiratory function tests; Pulmonary artery; Vital capacity; Forced expiratory volume