Cor Pulmonale

Cor pulmonale is a result of lung disease, not a cause of fibrosis.

What our notes say

Cor pulmonale is a result of lung disease, not a cause of fibrosis. (Junior Clerkship in Internal Medicine (MBIM4100) main exam, Paper One: 31 Januar)
Cor Pulmonale is right ventricular (RV) enlargement (hypertrophy, dilatation, or both) due to PH caused by primary disorders of the lung parenchyma, pulmonary vasculature, or disorders of breathing. (Pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale)
Signs: coarse crackles and rhonchi, wheeze, cyanosis and fluid retention (cor pulmonale) in advanced disease ("blue bloater": overweight, cyanosed, hypoxic, oedematous, CO2 retention). (Bronchitis (Acute and Chronic))
| Cor pulmonale (in chronic bronchitis) | Chronic hypoxic vasoconstriction → pulmonary arterial hypertension → right‑ventricular overload | Peripheral oedema, raised JVP, hepatomegaly; predicts higher mortality | Develops over years of untreated disease | (Bronchitis (Acute and Chronic))
Result: airflow obstruction, V/Q mismatch (hypoxaemia), hypercapnia in advanced disease, pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale. (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD))
ABG/oximetry, FBC (polycythaemia), ECG/echo (cor pulmonale), alpha-1 antitrypsin level in young or non-smoker patients, sputum culture, HIV test and TB screen. (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD))