66 year-old male with exertional dyspnoea

The case

Description

• This male patient (66 years, BMI 25 kg/m2, current smoker) has a history of bilateral pulmonary embolism in June 2013 which was treated with EKOS-lysis (ultrasound-enhanced thrombolysis). He is currently under oral anticoagulation.
• During work-up, coronary artery disease (CAD) with a high-degree right coronary artery stenosis was detected. A percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed in July 2013. Left ventricular ejection fraction was slightly reduced (50%). 
• This is the cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) 9 panel plot at the beginning of a 3-month ambulatory cardiac rehabilitation program. The patient complained of persisting exertional dyspnoe NYHA III, but no chest pain, dizziness or syncope.
• Pulmonary function test (PFT) was performed: Forced Vital Capacity (FVC): 3.0 L (71% predicted); Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1): 2.6 L (79% predicted). FEV1/FVC ratio 85%.

Test findings

• The 9-plot analysis documented a reduced exercise capacity with 81 Watt (51% predicted), and a peak VO2 of 1130 ml/min, 14.0 ml/min/kg (55% predicted) (Panel 3).
• The O2 pulse (VO2/heart rate) (Panel 2) and the VO2/work rate slope (Panel 3) were reduced.
• The VE/VCO2 slope was markedly elevated with a value of 50 (Panel 4).
• Breathing reserve (1- ratio  of ventilation at maximal exercise to maximal voluntary ventilation) was 0.18 (Panel 8).
• PETCO2 was low at rest (23 mmHg) and did not increase during exercise (Panel 9).
• Blood pressure was 115/70 mmHg at rest and 120/80 mmHg at maximum exercise. SpO2 was not recorded due to a technical problem. Exercise ECG revealed no exercise-induced ischemia.

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