[Dosed physical exercise in the early detection of cor pulmonale in chronic bronchitis patients].

A combined study of some indices of external respiratory function (vital capacity, air flow peak rate and derivative values), physical exercise tolerance, ECG signs of hypertrophy of the right ventricle and pulmonary hypertension, microcirculation of the bulbar conjunctiva was performed in 125 patients with chronic bronchitis prior to and after submaximum bicycle ergometric testing. All indices in nonobstructive chronic bronchitis slightly changed as compared to controls. Most of the patients with bronchial obstruction at the peak of exercise demonstrated distinct signs of respiratory insufficiency, an increase in bronchial obstruction, pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy. A conclusion was made of the necessity of a wide use of bicycle ergometry in early diagnosis of cor pulmonale. In genesis of the latter the leading role was played by bronchial permeability disorder.