ACTA FAC. MED. NAISS. 2006; 23 (3): 145-149

   Original article

 Lazar Todorovic
 

Cardiovascular Clinic of the Clinical Center of Nis
 

The problem of diastolic cardiac failure has been drawing attention in the past 12 years and since then it has been considered a unique clinical entity. It has been proved that the right ventricle (RV) in arterial hypertension (AHT) has impaired diastolic function due to abnormal diastolic function of the left ventricle (LV). Nowadays, diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction is easily obtained by Doppler echocardiography.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle in patients (pts) with cor pulmonale chronicum (CPC). Fifty patients with cor pulmonale chronicum were involved in group I; fifty-six patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) without cardiovascular problems were involved in group II-the control group. In all patients, 2D echocardiography and Doppler studies were performed.

Our results suggest that the presence of diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle in patients with cor pulmonale is a positive proof of aggravation of already present pulmonal failure and pulmonary hypertension and, as a consequence, RV is compromised.

    Key words: cor pulmonale chronicum, left ventricle, cardiac failure, diastolic failure