Arterial-Blood Gas Tension in Asthma

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Abstract
Arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions, pH and forced expiratory volumes were measured in 101 asthmatic patients during acute attacks of bronchospasm. Hypoxemia was observed in 91 subjects. The cause of the depressed oxygen tensions was found to be an alteration in ventilation-perfusion ratios. Overall alveolar hypoventilation and increased venous admixture were found to contribute to the hypoxemia in some patients with very severe levels of airway obstruction. Seventy-three subjects had hypocarbia and respiratory alkalosis. Carbon dioxide retention (observed in 11 patients) occurred only at extreme degrees of obstruction. Age, history of asthma and duration of the acute attack were unrelated to the alterations in blood gas tensions, pH or severity of airway obstruction.