Cor pulmonale is failure of the right side of the heart brought on by long-term high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries and right ventricle of the heart.

Right-sided heart failure

Normally, the left side of the heart produces a higher blood pressure in order to pump blood to the body. The right side of the heart pumps blood through the lungs under much lower pressure.

Any condition that leads to prolonged high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs (called pulmonary hypertension) puts a strain on the right side of the heart. When the right ventricle is unable to properly pump against these abnormally high pressures, it is called cor pulmonale.

Almost any chronic lung disease or condition causing prolonged low blood oxygen levels can lead to cor pulmonale. A few of these causes include:

• Central sleep apnea
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Interstitial lung disease
• Kyphoscoliosis
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Pneumoconiosis
• Primary pulmonary hypertension
• Pulmonary vascular disease
• Secondary pulmonary hypertension

Images

Sarcoid, stage IV - chest X-ray

Acute vs. chronic conditions

Respiratory system

Cor pulmonale

Review Date: 04/27/2010
Reviewed By: Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine UMDNJ-NJMS, Attending Physician in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Veterans Affairs, VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)