Pulmonary hypertension and myocardial contraction in disseminated types of pulmonary tuberculosis

: To elucidate the influence of hemodynamic factors on the development of right ventricular failure, hemodynamic parameters of the lesser and greater circulations and those characterizing myocardial contractility were studied in 36 patients. Despite profuse lung damage, pulmonary failure, and marked external respiration dysfunction that accompanied disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis, pulmonary hypertension was moderate and failed to be followed by hemodynamic overload, right cardiac hypertrophy and dilatation. Significant reductions in myocardial contractility both of the right and left cavities with a rise in the intensity of an inflammatory process suggest the leading role of a toxic and infectious agent in myocardial damage.