Lung blood flow studies in patients with scoliosis and neuromuscular weakness

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Abstract
Pulmonary capillary blood flow was measured by the nitrous oxide body plethysmograph technique in 16 patients, 10 of whom had scoliosis and six neuromuscular weakness. A linear correlation was found between the pulmonary artery to capillary flow conduction time and Pao2 (r=+0·85; p<0·001). The finding of a reduced flow conduction time and its correlation with the Pao2 suggests the presence of pulmonary arterial hypertension presumably on the basis of active vasoconstriction.