PULMONARY-FUNCTION IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS PATIENTS WITHOUT RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 15  (4) , 649-657
Abstract
Pulmonary function was studied in 22 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus without pulmonary clinical symptoms. The most striking features were a restrictive functional pattern with hyperinflation, characterized by a decreased vital capacity and increased residual volume, alteration of the elastic properties of the lung with increased pulmonary elastance and impairment of the alveolar-capillary gas transfer capacity, with very significant changes of the CO diffusion and arterio-alveolar gradients for O2 and CO2. No marked differences were found in functional disturbance among patients in the active or inactive disease phase.