Patterns of alveolar fluid clearance in heart failure

Alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) is important in keeping the airspaces free of edema. This process is accomplished via passive and active transport of Na+ across the alveolo-capillary barrier mostly by apical Na+ channels and basolateral Na,K-ATPases, respectively. Patterns of alveolar fluid clearance were found to be decreased in acutely elevated left atrial pressures, possibly due to the inhibition of alveolar epithelial active sodium transport. On the other hand, chronic elevation of pulmonary capillary pressure, such as seen in experimental and clinical congestive heart failure, increases alveolar fluid clearance most likely secondary to upregulation of active sodium transport.