Abstract
Aim: To evaluate ventilatory and lung diffusing capacity (DC) dysfunctions in patients with prior rheumatologic disease diagnosis, correlation with type of rheumatologic disorder, smoking status and establishing if prior normal spirometry is exclusionary.
Method: We performed LFT and DC in 81 patients with rheumatologic disease diagnosis, without prior diagnosis of lung involvement; we assessed lung parameters, status of smoking, Rheumatoid factor (RF) presence and we analysed frequencies and correlations.
Results: 7,4% had lupus eritematosus (LE),67,9% rheumatoid arthritis (RA); scleroderma (SD) 19,7%; spondilitis (Sp) in 4,9%; mean age 56,1±13,7years; smokers were 16%, exsmokers 13,6%, nonsmokers 70,4%; spirometry was abnormal in 61,7%, and DLco in 45,6% (decreased in 91,9%); ventilatory dysfunctions found were: restrictive dysfunction (RD) in RA 20%, in SD 50%, correlation factor (Cf)=0,37, p=0,004; obstructive dysfunction (OD) in RA 9%, in LE 16,6%, no correlation with smoker status; DLco was low in 26% of those with normal spirometry: the lowest values was found in SD and RA with RF+;DLco was decreased in 38,2% in RA; (76,1% in RF+), Cf=0,28; SD 62,5% with Cf=0,319, p=0,003; 25% in Sp; DLco increased in 8,1%.
Conclusions: Prevalence of ventilatory and difussing capacity dysfunctions was high in rheumatologic disorders; DLco was decreased in ¼ of patients despite normal spirometry-so,spirometry is not exclusionary for Dlco testing;existed a high correlation between RD and low DLco, RA with RF+ prevalence and low DLco,and SD and low DLco; we cannot found a correlation between smoker status and ventilatory or DLco disorders- (possible because of low prevalence of smoking).
- © 2011 ERS
