pulmonary capillary pressure (PCP)

Introduction

Normal value: < 12 mm Hg

Increases

• left ventricular failure
• obstruction of flow through the mitral valve
  • mitral stenosis
  • atrial myxoma
• pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (rare).

Notes

Pulmonary capillary pressure (PCP) is counterbalanced by forces which keep fluid in the pulmonary intravascular space:

• serum oncotic pressure
• pulmonary interstitial hydrostatic pressure

More general terms

• capillary pressure

Additional terms

• pulmonary artery occlusive pressure (PAoP); pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP)