Lung function testing in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension

OBJECTIVE: The main objective was to describe the results of lung function testing in a series of 120 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, and the secondary objective was to compare these findings with hemodynamic variables. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive study of lung function in 120 patients with stable pulmonary arterial hypertension (Evian/Venice groups 1 and 4) studied until January 2002 in the Pulmonary Hypertension and Lung Transplant Working Group attached to the Cardiology Department of the Hospital Universtario 12 de Octubre in Madrid, Spain. Data were collected retrospectively for the first 47 patients (1981 to 1995) and prospectively thereafter for the remaining 73 patients. The diagnosis was idiopathic arterial hypertension or hypertension associated with collagenosis, chronic pulmonary embolism, cardiac shunt, or toxic oil syndrome (30 cases). RESULTS: In the group as a whole, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and total lung capacity were normal; mean (SD) values revealed low carbon dioxide diffusing capacity (67.6% [23.2%]), and moderate hypoxemia (65.8 [15.4] mm Hg). No significant associations were observed between lung function and hemodynamic parameters. Mean age in the toxic oil syndrome group was lower (33.7 [11.4] years), and these patients had higher mean scores on the New York Heart Association scale (3.3 [0.5]) and for pulmonary vascular resistance (20.3 [8.1] kPa center dot L-1 center dot s). CONCLUSIONS: Lung function was studied in a series of 120 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (Evian/Venice groups 1 and 4), 30 of whom had toxic oil syndrome. No significant associations were found between lung function and hemodynamic parameters.