Pulmonary Blood Volume in Mitral Stenosis

Abstract

Data on the pulmonary blood volume and related haemodynamic parameters, as obtained by right and left heart catheterization in 15 normal healthy volunteers, four patients with mitral regurgitation, and 29 patients with mitral stenosis, are given. The average pulmonary blood volume in normal persons was 211 ml./m.2, in patients with mitral regurgitation 266 ml./m2, and in those with mitral stenosis 419 ml./m.2 In patients with mitral stenosis the pulmonary blood volume could be related to pulmonary symptoms like exertional dyspnoea, haemoptysis, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea. Pulmonary blood volume could also be related directly to left atrial and pulmonary arterial pressures and inversely to pulmonary vascular resistance. It is suggested that estimation of pulmonary blood volume may be an additional useful parameter to explain pulmonary symptoms of patients with mitral stenosis. © 1965, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.