The Lungs in Systemic Sclerosis

Lung function and the response to exercise in systemic sclerosis

“…Other studies involving exercise have also reported results at only relatively low levels of work (Aquilani, Castagnoli, Crispo, and Zorin, 1967;Ashba and Ghanem, 1965). In some of our patients we are able to suggest possible causes for this inability to exercise.…”

“…Previous observers have found little correlation between the clinical condition and the results of conventional lung function tests (Weaver et al, 1967;Ashba and Ghanem, 1965). Although we have shown that the patients with the most abnormal response to exercise tended to have the most abnormal lung volumes, spirometry, and transfer ability for CO, we have been unable to correlate the clinical state with our physiological data (Table IV).…”

“…All of these patients had a high ventilation on exercise and they tended to have the smallest lungs and least ability to transfer CO (Table III). Previous workers have noted hyperventilation on exercise (Ritchie, 1964;Fuleihan, Kurban, Abboud, Beidas-Jubran, and Farah, 1968), desaturation on exercise (Ashba and Ghanem, 1965;Aquilani et al, 1967), and an increased venous admixture at rest (Fuleihan et al, 1968). In the remaining seven patients we have not been able to explain their effort intolerance.…”

Pulmonary Function in Scleroderma

“…Impaired diffusion has been suggested as the earliest pulmonary function alteration in scleroderma (5,8). Obstructive lung disease has been noted alone or in conjunction with restrictive lung disease (2,4,5,7,9,11), but has been considered a relatively late manifestation of disease (2.8).…”

Συμβολη Εις Την Μελετην Της Γενικευμενης Σκληροδερμιας.

“…68 , 97 Μεταξύ τών συμπτωμάτων εκ προσβολής τών πνευμόνων περιγράφονται ή δύσπνοια μετά κόπωσιν, ή παρουσία επιμόνου βηχός μετά ή άνευ άποχρέμψεως, ή έλάττωσις του αναπνευστικού ψιθυρίσματος καί ή διαπίστωσις υγρών ρόγχων εις τάς βάσεις κατά τήν αντικειμενική ν έξέτασιν. 4 Έργαστηριακαί εξετάσεις μετά παθογνωμονικών ευρημάτων δεν έ χουν περιγραφή επί σκληροδερμίας μέχρι σήμερον. 97 , 98 , 99 , 157 Ή συμβολή όμως του εργαστηρίου θεωρείται χρήσιμος δια τήν έπιβεβαίωσιν τυχόν προσβολής ενός ή περισσοτέρων οργάνων.…”