Sidney H. Dressler

THE EFFECT OF MILD EXERCISE IN THE SUPINE POSITION ON THE PULMONARY ARTERIAL PRESSURE OF FIVE NORMAL HUMAN SUBJECTS

In the course of study of a series of patients with cardiopulmonary diseases of various type and degree, it was noted that the pulmonary arterial pressure rose during supine exercise in all instances. This rise was observed even in individuals with minimal pulmonary involvement and no detectable cardiac abnormality. Inasmuch as it has been stated that the pulmonary arterial pressure does not rise appreciably with mild exercise in subjects with normal cardiorespiratory systems (1-3), it seemed necessary to re-examine this question. It is the purpose of this paper to describe in detail the pulmonary arterial pressure rise which occurs in normal man during mild, supine exercise, together with certain associated physiological changes.