[Echocardiographical evaluation of mean pulmonary artery pressure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

We compared Dopplerographic methods and invasive assessment of mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) in 20 men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We demonstrated possibility of evaluation of mean pulmonary artery pressure by Doppler methods of calculation using diastolic gradient of pressure of pulmonary regurgitation and ratio of flow acceleration time in right ventricular outflow tract and ejection time. In patients with COPD overestimation of MPAP is possible especially in patients with pronounced elevation of MPAP. Methods of evaluation of MPAP based on measurements of intervals of pulmonary blood flow do not allow to adequately evaluate MPAP in patients with COPD.