Pulmonary Arterial Pressure Response During Exercise

Background: The extent of increase in systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPs) during exercise in patients with COPD is unpredictable from lung function data. The non-invasive assessment of pulmonary hemodynamics during exercise and flow-mediated vasodilatation measurement may give useful data in the rehabilitation of COPD patients. Methods: Patients with stable, severe COPD and healthy, age-matched subjects (H) perform semi supine echocardiography with PAPs measurement. COPD patients perform ramp protocol with gas exchange detection. Serum hsCRP level is also determined in COPD patients. Endothel dysfunction is detected by flow mediated vasodilation measurement after arm strangulation with Doppler ultrasonography. Primary endpoint: The degree of pulmonary artery systolic pressure change during exercise? Secondary endpoint: 1. The degree of right ventricular function change during exercise? 2. Is endothel dysfunction manifested with pulmonary artery pressure rise? 3. What is the correlation between the systemic inflammatory marker hsCRP and the degree of pulmonary artery pressure rise?