COR PULMONALE
DEFINITION
Pulmonary heart disease (cor pulmonale) is an alteration in the structure or function of the right ventricle resulting
from disease of lung structure or function or its vasculature.
It is heart disease caused by lung disease.
Cor pulmonale is a condition in which the right ventricle of the heart enlarges (with or without right-sided heart
failure) as a result of diseases that affect the structure or function of the lung or its vasculature.
ETIOLOGY
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Chronic blood clots in the lungs
Cystic fibrosis
Scarring of the lung tissue (interstitial lung disease)
Kyphoscoliosis (Severe curving of the upper part of the spine)
Obstructive sleep apnea.
PATHOPHYSI0LOGY
Due to any etiological factors
Alveolar Hypoxia
Increased Pulmonary Vascular Resistance
Pulmonary Hypertension
Increased Right Ventricular Afterload
Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
Right Ventricular Failure
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
Dyspnea
Chronic productive cough
Wheezing respirations
Retrosternal or substernal pain
Fatigue
Polycythemia (Elevated RBC)
If heart failure accompanies cor pulmonale additional manifestations such as :
Peripheral edema
Weight gain
Distended neck veins
Full bounding pulse
pg. 1
DEFINITION
Pulmonary heart disease (cor pulmonale) is an alteration in the structure or function of the right ventricle resulting
from disease of lung structure or function or its vasculature.
It is heart disease caused by lung disease.
Cor pulmonale is a condition in which the right ventricle of the heart enlarges (with or without right-sided heart
failure) as a result of diseases that affect the structure or function of the lung or its vasculature.
ETIOLOGY
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Chronic blood clots in the lungs
Cystic fibrosis
Scarring of the lung tissue (interstitial lung disease)
Kyphoscoliosis (Severe curving of the upper part of the spine)
Obstructive sleep apnea.
PATHOPHYSI0LOGY
Due to any etiological factors
Alveolar Hypoxia
Increased Pulmonary Vascular Resistance
Pulmonary Hypertension
Increased Right Ventricular Afterload
Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
Right Ventricular Failure
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
Dyspnea
Chronic productive cough
Wheezing respirations
Retrosternal or substernal pain
Fatigue
Polycythemia (Elevated RBC)
If heart failure accompanies cor pulmonale additional manifestations such as :
Peripheral edema
Weight gain
Distended neck veins
Full bounding pulse
pg. 1
