TY - JOUR T1 - Pulmonary hypertension and COPD: Clinical assessment and biomarkers JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 42 IS - Suppl 57 SP - P2653 AU - Donato Lacedonia AU - Giuseppe Valerio AU - Gazia P. Palladino AU - Michele Correale AU - Giovanna E. Carpagnano AU - Matteo di Biase AU - Maria P. Foschino Barbaro Y1 - 2013/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P2653.abstract N2 - Background: The aim of this study was to define clinical characteristics of patients with COPD and PH with particular attention on subgroup which have PH “out of proportion”, investigating the differences in term of inflammatory and oxidative stress status.Materials and Methods: Patients with COPD and low level of oxygen (PaO2 < 75 mmHg) and/or high level of dyspnea (MRC>2), who showed, at echocardiographic study, PAPs > 30 mmHg without left heart systolic and diastolic dysfunction underwent to Right Heart Catheterization (RHC) to evaluate pulmonary pressures. The assay for human IL-6, LTB4, VIP and ET-1 were performed on blood sample taken during RHC in pulmonary artery.Results: 83 patients were enrolled and divided in three groups: simple COPD when mPAP was less then 25 mmHg (37 pz); COPD with PH if mPAP > 25 mmHg (46 pz) and among these last ones who had mPAP >35mmHg and FEV1<50% were classified as “out of proportion” (OP) 7 pz.Patients with PH were older and had a BMI higher than others groups, moreover they had lower FEV1 and DLCO. Despite these differences, lower level of PaO2 was observed in the group of patients OP. The levels of ET-1, IL-6 and LTB4 were similar in each groups; VIP was higher in the patients OP than in simple COPD, no difference were with PH-COPD. There was a strongly negative correlation between PaO2 and mPAP and weak positive correlation between mPAP and VIP.Conclusions: In COPD with PH, the embalance beetween vasocostrictor and vasodilatator mediators seems to be lightly different then in idioptatic PH but the mechanism which leads to PH in this case is complex and not fully understood. ER -