Abstract 15873: Adverse Cardiac and Pulmonary Vascular Change in Patients with Subclinical and Clinical Copd

Background: COPD is associated with altered right ventricular (RV) and pulmonary vascular function. However, little is known about such change in patients with subclinical COPD. Methods: Thirty nine volunteers were recruited prospectively to undergo echocardiography, MRI and pulmonary function test (PFT). COPD was defined as FEV1/FVC 75% with no smoking history (N=9). Cardiac function was assessed by cine MRI. All subjects underwent first pass lung perfusion using a partial Fourier saturation recovery SSFP technique. The absolute lung perfusion was calculated using dynamic contrast signal in the pulmonary artery as input and that in the lungs. Total lung blood volume was the function of mean blood transit time and cardiac output in main pulmonary artery (PA). Results: Average FEV1/FVC was 84±6%, 73±3% and 50±15% for normal, subclinical and clinical COPD groups, respectively (p Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the decline of cardiovascular function precedes the full development of COPD. Future research on pulmonary and cardiovascular change in patients with subclinical COPD is warranted.