Abstract
Background Essential hypertension (EH) and COPD are the most frequent comorbid conditions.COPD is often complicated by pulmonary hypertension (PH), which affects the course and prognosis of the disease.
Objective was to estimate the effect of the combinend antihypertensive therapy of EH on the level of PH depending on the stage of bronchoobstruction in COPD patients.
Methods 48 patients (37 males and 11 females) with COPD of moderate and severe bronchial obstruction complicated by PH and with essential hypertension were studied. Mean pressure in the pulmonary artery (PA) was determined by Doppler-echocardiography. PH was diagnosed at a pulmonary artery (PA) pressure ≥36 mm Hg. In addition to the treatment of COPD was used a combinated antihypertensive therapy: amlodipine at daily dose of 5 mg and an ramipril at daily dose of 5 mg. The observation lasted 3 months.
Results The mean age of patients was 51,88 ± 2,26 years. Antihypertensive drugs usage decreased the PA pressure in COPD patients with moderate bronchial obstruction on 36.72%, and in COPD patients with severe obstruction - on 24.19% (p<005). It was observed the reduction of systemic systolic blood pressure on 18.13%, and diastolic blood pressure - on 23.41% (p<005) from initial level in patients with moderate bronchial obstruction. In severe bronchial obstruction similar rates of systemic pressure decreased on 17.69%, and 23.67% (p<005), respectively.
Conclusions Amlodipine and ramipril on the background of the basic treatment of COPD has a positive effect on the blood pressure dynamics in the pulmonary artery and at the system circulationl that encourages their use in this group of patients.
- © 2014 ERS