[The prognostic significance of pulmonary arterial hypertension in chronic obstructive airway disease (author's transl)].

In 175 cases of chronic obstructive airway disease (most often chronic bronchitis) with severe ventilatory deficit in the majority of cases, the prognostic value of mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and other respiratory function parameters (FEV1, blood gases) was studied by calculation of survival rates using the actuarial method. The patients were cathetherised between 1968 and 1972 and the maximum period of follow-up is 10 years. The results demonstrated the definite prognostic value of PAP : 4 and 7 year survival rates were markedly different according to whether initial PAP was above or below 20 mmHg. However other haemodynamic (motor pressure through the pulmonary circulation) and non-haemodynamic (FEV1, PaCO2) parameters also would appear to be as useful as PAP in predicting survival in such patients. The prognosis is particularly bad in patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAP greater than 30 mmHg). In this type of study, it is essential to bear in mind the influence of age. Survival rates differed significantly according to whether the subjects were over 60 years in age initially.