Airway function in stage I and stage II pulmonary sarcoidosis.
Airway function was studied in 39 patients with stage I sarcoidosis and in 20 patients with stage II sarcoidosis. All of our patients were nonsmokers. Characteristic functional changes of restrictive lung disease was observed in 4 patients with stage II sarcoidosis. Specific airway conductance and % FEV1 were abnormal in 3 patients with stage II sarcoidosis. Abnormal small airway function was demonstrated in several patients with stage I and stage II sarcoidosis, always by multiple tests. Frequency dependence of dynamic compliance was demonstrated in 40% of stage I and 50% of stage II sarcoidosis. Maximal flow (Vmax50, Vmax25) was decreased respectively in 36 and 30% of patients of stage I sarcoidosis and in 56 and 62% of patients with stage II sarcoidosis. The ratio of closing volume to vital capacity was increased above corrected predictions in 30% of stage I and 44% of stage II sarcoidosis. delta Vmax25 decreased and Visov/VC (%) increased in more than 50% of patients. Upstream airway resistance was abnormally increased in 50% of patients with stage I and in 73% with stage II sarcoidosis. These results suggest that small airway dysfunction is common in early sarcoidosis without restrictive defect.
D000328:Adult; D000403:Airway Resistance; D003011:Closing Volume; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008450:Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014797:Vital Capacity