[The role of renin-angiotensin system in pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and hemodynamics in pulmonary artery (PA) were assessed in 25 patients with chronic non-obstructive bronchitis and 73 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). RAS in COPD patients was activated. The degree of this activation rose with progression of respiratory failure. Hypertension in PA was secondary to RAS activation. The data were obtained on the essential role of RAS in the onset and progression of pulmonary hypertension. This allows to design new approaches to pathogenetic treatment of secondary pulmonary hypertension.