Pulmonary function studies in acute pulmonary histoplasmosis.
We performed follow-up pulmonary function studies on three patients with acute pulmonary histoplasmosis over a period of several months, and found that the disease is benign and usually responds well to treatment or is self-limiting. There are four major changes in lung function, namely a restrictive defect, an impairment of diffusing capacity, stiff lung, and obstruction in small airways. These changes usually lead to disturbance of ventilation-perfusion ratios and impaired gas transport across alveolar capillary membranes, resulting in arterial hypoxemia. There is also hypocapnia from alveolar hyperventilation commonly found in restrictive and stiff lung syndrome.
D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008170:Lung Compliance; D008174:Lung Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000503:physiopathology; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests