PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - A.T. Jones
AU  - D.M. Hansell
AU  - T.W. Evans
TI  - Quantifying pulmonary perfusion in primary pulmonary hypertension using electron-beam computed tomography
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.03.00033803
DP  - 2004 Feb 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 202--207
VI  - 23
IP  - 2
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/23/2/202.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/23/2/202.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2004 Feb 01; 23
AB  - Traditionally, a gravitational distribution of pulmonary perfusion has been described in normal subjects. How this may vary in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), which is characterised by vascular obstruction due to intimal thickening, smooth muscle cell proliferation and episodes of thrombosis in small and medium sized pulmonary arteries, is unclear. In this study the potential of electron-beam computed tomography in quantifying the distribution of pulmonary perfusion in patients with PPH was investigated. Contrast-enhanced sections were obtained during inspiration in the supine position at baseline and during administration of the vasodilator adenosine in five healthy subjects and five patients with PPH. Under each experimental condition, regions of interest were placed along the nondependent-to-dependent axis and values for relative perfusion derived. In healthy individuals, a marked nondependent-to-dependent gradient in perfusion was observed. By contrast, in PPH, perfusion values were significantly lower and were uniform across the lung section, although the administration of adenosine resulted in increased perfusion in all regions of interest. Electron-beam computed tomography provides physiological and structural information about the pulmonary circulation in subjects with pulmonary vascular disease.