Heart failure increases the resistance to gas transfer across the alveolar-capillary interface. In different experimental conditions of vascular capillary injury, peculiar anatomical and functional abnormalities of the alveolar unit have been reported and consist of a disruption of its anatomical configuration and of a loss of fluid-flux regulation and gas exchange efficiency (i.e. "stress failure" of the alveolar-capillary membrane). In heart failure, the pathophysiological relevance of these changes has been only recently appreciated. Alveolar-capillary membrane conductance and capillary blood volume are subcomponents of lung diffusion capacity. A reduction of the former with an increase of the latter and consequent impairment of gas exchange are typical of heart failure syndrome. Alveolar-capillary membrane conductance abnormalities have been shown to be a sensitive index of the underlying lung tissue damage, bring an independent prognostic information and play a significant role in the pathogenesis of exercise limitation and ventilatory abnormalities. This review examines the current knowledge on this topic.
[Alveolar-capillary dysfunction in heart failure] / S. De Vita, M. Guazzi, J. Oreglia, MD. Guazzi. - In: ITALIAN HEART JOURNAL. SUPPLEMENT. - ISSN 1129-4728. - 3:10(2002 Oct), pp. 1022-1026.
Titolo: | [Alveolar-capillary dysfunction in heart failure] |
Autori: | GUAZZI, MARCO (Secondo) GUAZZI, MAURIZIO (Secondo) |
Settore Scientifico Disciplinare: | Settore MED/11 - Malattie dell'Apparato Cardiovascolare |
Data di pubblicazione: | ott-2002 |
Rivista: | |
Tipologia: | Article (author) |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 01 - Articolo su periodico |