Small Airways Dysfunction in Systemic Sclerosis (8)

Thirteen (68 percent) of 19 patients had dyspnea on exertion and/or nonproductive cough, while 8 (42 percent) had bibasilar rales on clinical examination. All but one (95 percent) had roentgenologic findings on chest roentgenogram, with the prementioned abnormalities. Positive serologic features were found in 15 of these patients: ANA in 13, ACA in 4, and anti-sclro antibodies in 5 patients.
No significant differences were found between the patients with and without pulmonary involvement from the disease in the mean age, duration, form of the disease, and the positive serologic features (Table 3). Regression analysis was performed in the whole group of patients (n=31) as well as in the pulmonary involvement subgroup (n = 19) to reveal any correlation existing between MEF25 and TLC, FVC, Deo, and FEVi/FVC levels. Positive correlation (r = 0.5, p<0.001) was found between MEF25 and FEVi/FVC in the whole group of patients. There was negative correlation (r = — 0.67, p<0.001) between MEF25 and Deo in the patients with pulmonary involvement (Fig 1 and 2). No correlation was observed between MEF25 and TLC or FVC either in the whole group (r=0.108, r=0.012, respectively) or in the patients with pulmonary involvement (r=0.205, r=0.160, respectively).

Figure 1. Correlation between MEF25 and FEV,/FVC in patients with systemic sclerosis (n = 31).

Figure 2. Correlation between MEF25 and Deo in patients with systemic sclerosis with pulmonary involvement (n = 19).

Category: Pulmonary disease

Tags: pulmonary function, pulmonary involvement, scleroderma, systemic sclerosis