PULMONARY-FUNCTION TESTS IN PATIENTS WITH CONGESTIVE-HEART-FAILURE - EFFECTS OF MEDICAL THERAPY

In a group of 13 Patients with severe heart failure, both forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1) significan tly improved after intensive medical therapy (FVC: from 77 +/- 17 to 9 2 +/- 20%, p < 0.001; FEV1: from 65 +/- 15 to 81 +/- 15%, p < 0.001) i n the absence of change in M-mode echo cardiac dimension and left vent ricular systolic function; on the other hand, a change of indices of l eft ventricular filling by Doppler transmitral flow was documented (E/ A ratio: from 3.6 +/- 1.2 to 1.65 +/- 1.5, p < 0.01; early filling dec eleration time: from 94 +/- 39 to 178 +/- 78 ms, p < 0.01), indicating a reduction of pulmonary capillary pressure; this probably positively affected pulmonary interstitial edema and bronchial wall congestion, thus enhancing pulmonary function.