Equilibrium radionuclide right ventriculography at rest and during exercise in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Using the method of equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography (RNV), the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) at rest and at a standard workload of 250 kpm per min was determined in 25 control subjects and in 30 patients with pulmonary hypertension (8 patients with chronic obstructive bronchopulmonary disease, 12 with recurrent pulmonary embolism and 10 with pure mitral stenosis). In the same week as RNV, pulmonary artery pressure was registered in patients with pulmonary hypertension at rest and at standard workload. RVEF was significantly higher (45 +/- 5%) in normal subjects than in patients with pulmonary hypertension (33 +/- 5%) and during exercise increased, whereas in patients with pulmonary hypertension it did not markedly change or decreased. The RVEF correlated at rest (r = -0.6293, p less than 0.001) and during exercise (r = 0.6980, p less than 0.05) with the degree of pulmonary hypertension at rest and during exercise. The results show a good correlation between the RVEF and the degree of pulmonary hypertension in patients with pulmonary hypertension at rest and during exercise.