Elastic properties of pulmonary artery in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Today chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common diseases with specific pulmonary vascular changes.The aim -to evaluate elastic properties of pulmonary artery (PA) and pathogenic mechanisms of disorders in COPD. Materials and methods.Participants were 50 patients with COPD stages 1-3 without comorbidities (32 men and 18 women, average age was 49.8 ± 1.0 years). Control group included 30 healthy people (19 men and 11 women, aged 50.1 ± 1.2 years). PA elastic properties was researched by ultrasound method. Statistical analysis was performed by means of the Statistica ® 6.0 for Windows (StatSoft Inc.) software using parametric and nonparametric methods.Results. Study data showed that pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and PA elastic properties were significantly different between subjects with COPD and control group. Thus, pulsatility, compliance and distensibility in CORD were decreased (39.23 ± 1.6 %, 6.4 ± 0.4 mm 2 /mm Hg and 1.71 ± 0.10 %/mm Hg versus 51.4 ± 1.9 %, 11.1 ± 0.5 mm 2 /mm Hg and 3.30 ± 0.12 %/mm Hg in control group, respectively, p < 0.05), and elastic modulus and index stiffness B were increased (65.7 ± 3.7 mm Hg and 2.91 ± 0.17 to 31.6 ± 1.2 mm Hg and 2.05 ± 0.08, versus 31.6 ± 1.2 mm Hg and 2.05 ± 0.08 in control group, respectively, p < 0.05). Analysis in groups divided by severity of COPD showed that PA elastic properties was not different significantly between subjects with COPD stage-1 and control group. However, several significant differences in PAP and PA elastic properties between subjects with COPD stage-2, COPD stage-3 and control group were found (p < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis was showed significant relationships between indexes of PA elastic properties and FEV 1 , indexes of PAP.Conclusions. The changes of PA elastic properties in COPD are accompany by increasing stiffness, thus reduce pulsatility, compliance and elasticity of vascular wall. Detected changes of PA elastic properties were associated with disease progression, airflow limitation and pulmonary hypertension, most significantly in COPD stage-3.