EFFECT OF CORTICOSTEROIDS ON PULMONARY FUNCTION IN CHRONIC BRONCHITIS WITH AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION

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Abstract
Pulmonary function studies (including arterial blood gas determinations) were performed on 10 patients with chronic bronchitis. The studies were done before and during the administration of 4 mg of betamethasone per day. Eight of the patients were restudied when the dose of betamethasone was tapered to 1 mg per day. There was significant improvement in expired vital capacity, arterial O2 tension and saturation, and the venous admixture-like-effect during the daily administration of 4 mg of betamethasone. This improvement was lost when the dose of betamethasone was tapered to 1 mg per day.