Moderate alcohol dose and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: not a cause of hypoventilation

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Patients (6) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (forced expiratory volume in 1 s, 1.01 .+-. 0.08 l [mean .+-. standard error of the mean]) were given 1 ml of 100% alcohol/kg of body wt in an aqueous solution or a similar volume of water in a crossover design on consecutive days. All subjects became intoxicated and the peak alcohol concentration was 137 .+-. 11 mg/dl, 40 min after ingestion. No significant difference was found in either partial arterial pressure of O2 or CO2 between the alcohol and control period. A significant decrease in arterial pH occurred following alcohol (P < .05) and represented a mild metabolic acidosis. Alcohol ingestion resulted in increased O2 consumption (P < .05) and CO2 production (P < .05) but no change in respiratory rate. Small to moderate amounts of alcohol may not cause marked changes in O2 tension or alveolar hypoventilation in patients with severe COPD who do not have marked hypercapnia. Other effects of alcohol on the cardiopulmonary system and the concomitant use of sedatives must be considered before condoning the use of alcohol.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: