Right ventricular hypertrophy in emphysema

Cor pulmonale and respiratory disease: unique features of the equine cardiopulmonary system

“…The reports in this issue by Schwarzwald et al (2006) and Uhlhorn et al (2006) illustrate a key feature of the functional relationship between the equine cardiovascular and respiratory systems. In other species, notably man (Haselton 1973) and cattle ), respiratory disease, or alterations in respiratory function, have profound effects on the cardiovascular system and frequently result in right-sided cardiac failure. The equine cardiovascular system, however, is generally capable of maintaining normal right-sided function in the face of respiratory disease, even chronic lower respiratory tract diseases that cause severe reduction in respiratory function (Dixon 1978).…”

“…In man and cattle, cor pulmonale is a common consequence of altered pulmonary function and alveolar hypoxia/hypoxaemia. Around 40% of humans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (a chronic, progressive, irreversible pulmonary disease associated with smoking) develop cor pulmonale with right ventricular hypertrophy secondary to pulmonary hypertension (Haselton 1973). In cattle, cor pulmonale also occurs secondary to chronic pulmonary disease but is most commonly seen as a consequence of living at high altitude (>2500 m), where hypoxia results from low atmospheric oxygen tensions .…”