title: Pulmonary function in systemic lupus erythematosus patients without respiratory symptoms.
abstract: Pulmonary function was studied in 22 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus without pulmonary clinical symptoms. The most striking features were: a) a restrictive functional pattern with hyperinflation, characterized by a decreased vital capacity and increased residual volume; b) alteration of the elastic properties of the lung, with increased pulmonary elastance; c) 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 phase of the disease.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000403:Airway Resistance; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008170:Lung Compliance; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio; D014797:Vital Capacity