What does high PVR generally suggest about the lung condition?

High pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) generally suggests the presence of lung disease. When PVR is elevated, it indicates that the blood vessels in the lungs are constricted or that there are changes in the pulmonary circulation, often due to a pathological process. Conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary hypertension, or interstitial lung disease can lead to increased resistance in the pulmonary vasculature, reflecting underlying lung pathology.

Increased PVR is commonly associated with the heart's struggle to pump blood effectively through the lungs, potentially signaling that there is a problem affecting the lung's ability to handle blood flow and gas exchange. This connection to lung disease makes it essential to assess PVR in the context of respiratory health, as it can be a key indicator of more serious conditions affecting pulmonary function.

In contrast, options focusing on increased oxygenation, improved ventilation, or normal pulmonary function do not align with the implications of elevated PVR—each of those situations generally indicates healthy or improved lung performance rather than the presence of disease.