What is cor pulmonale?

• A. Left ventricular hypertrophy due to systemic hypertension
• B. Right-sided enlargement of the heart due to disease of the lungs or pulmonary vessels
• C. Enlargement of the atria due to valvular disease
• D. Right ventricular dilation due to anemia

Answer: (B)

Cor pulmonale is right-sided heart enlargement and eventual failure caused by chronic lung disease or pulmonary vascular disease. The lung problem leads to prolonged high pressure in the pulmonary arteries (pulmonary hypertension) because the right ventricle has to pump against this increased resistance. Over time, the right ventricle hypertrophies and may dilate, producing signs of right-sided heart failure such as edema, hepatomegaly, jugular venous distention, and ascites. This is why the best description is the right-sided enlargement of the heart due to disease of the lungs or pulmonary vessels.

The other scenarios describe different heart problems: left ventricular hypertrophy from systemic hypertension affects the left side of the heart, not the right; enlargement of the atria due to valvular disease involves the atria rather than the right ventricle; and right ventricular dilation from anemia isn’t the same pathophysiology as cor pulmonale, which centers on pulmonary hypertension from lung disease.