Abstract

MANCINI, André Luís; CARVALHO, Sonia Regina da Silva; CRASTO, Maria do Carmo Valente de  and  DIAS, Ricardo Marques. Echocardiograph alterations in asthma patients. Rev Port Pneumol [online]. 2008, vol.14, n.3, pp.363-377. ISSN 0873-2159.

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease which has increased during the last 20 years, putting a strain on medical resources, particularly severe forms of the disease. Treatment in such cases is inhaled corticosteroids and beta agonist drugs that can produce a range of side effects. The aim of this study is to identify echocardiograph abnormalities and correlate them with severity of disease. Methodology: Eight-seven outpatients were selected at the asthma unit of the Gaffrée Guinle University Hospital (HUGG). Each patient underwent spirometry, electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram (ECO) during the trial within a month maximum. Echocardiograph abnormalities found related to degree of asthma. Statistical analysis was made by nonparametric tests. Results: We found significant differences (p≤ 0.05) for age, disease duration and haemoglobin saturation (SaO₂) between the moderate and severe groups. In the sample a high prevalence of tricuspid insufficiency (41.4%) was identified. Conclusions: ECO identified a series of abnormalities that were not always dependent on severity of disease. ECO can identify pulmonary hypertension through calculation of mean pressure of the pulmonary artery.

Keywords : Asthma; electrocardiogram; echocardiogram.

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