BCSE Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Study Resource

An increase in pulmonary venous pressure is primarily associated with left heart failure. In this condition, the left ventricle is unable to effectively pump blood out to the systemic circulation. As a result, blood begins to back up in the pulmonary circulation, leading to elevated pressures in the pulmonary veins. This situation can cause pulmonary congestion and might result in symptoms such as dyspnea (shortness of breath) and orthopnea (difficulty breathing while lying flat).

In contrast, while pneumonia may lead to localized inflammatory changes in the lungs, it does not predominantly cause an increase in pulmonary venous pressure like left heart failure does. Chronic bronchitis and cystic fibrosis are primarily obstructive lung diseases, characterized by airflow limitation and do not directly influence the venous pressure in the pulmonary circulation in the same manner as left heart failure. Instead, they can lead to symptoms related to airway obstruction and chronic respiratory issues.