[Effects of long term oxygen therapy in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. II. Effect of oxygen therapy on function of heart ventricles].

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of chronic home oxygen therapy on cardiac function in patients with idiopathic interstitial lung fibrosis. Ten patients (Group A) received standard pharmacological treatment (prednisone 10-15 mg/day) and supplementary home oxygen therapy (mean 16.4 h/day) for the period of 4 years. Eight patients (Group B) received pharmacological treatment alone for the same period of time. Left ventricular ejection fraction was measured with a scintillation probe. Right and left ventricular function was also assessed by means of echocardiography. All measurements were taken at the beginning of study and repeated at the end of the 4 year follow-up. Anatomical and functional deterioration was slower in group A than in group B. Statistically significant differences between the groups at follow-up were found with respect to the right ventricle-early inflow velocity and tricuspid E/A ratio. Changes in left ventricular function were also different between the groups. A significant decrease in ejection fraction and mitral E/A ratio was observed in group B, while the corresponding changes in group A were not significant. These results suggest that chronic home oxygen therapy attenuates cardiac dysfunction in patients with idiopathic interstitial lung fibrosis.