Q: Oxygen works as an afterload reducer for right-sided heart failure in cor pulmonale? 

 A)True 
 B) False


Answer:  A

Oxygen therapy acts as a reversal against vasoconstriction secondary to hypoxemia. Subsequently, it decreases pulmonary artery pressure. In fact, oxygen is considered as a drug of choice for pulmonary hypertension secondary to COPD/Cor pulmonale. 


References: 

1. Weitzenblum E, Sautegeau A, Ehrhart M, et al. Long-term oxygen therapy can reverse the progression of pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am Rev Respir Dis 1985; 131:493. 

2. Hoeper MM, Andreas S, Bastian A, et al. Pulmonary hypertension due to chronic lung disease: updated Recommendations of the Cologne Consensus Conference 2011. Int J Cardiol 2011; 154 Suppl 1:S45.