Pulmonary Artery Enlargement is Associated with RV Dysfunction and Loss of Blood Volume in Small Pulmonary Vessels in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

摘要

BackgroundCOPD causes significant morbidity and concomitant pulmonary vascular disease and cardiac dysfunction are associated with poor prognosis. CT-detected relative pulmonary artery enlargement defined as a pulmonary artery to ascending aorta diameter ratio greater than one (PA:A>1) is a marker for pulmonary hypertension and predicts COPD exacerbations. However, little is known about the relationship between the PA:A ratio, pulmonary blood volume, and cardiac function.