title: [Respiratory functional characteristics of human leptospirosis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Respiratory impairment may be the main clinical manifestation of human leptospirosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  With the aim of describing the respiratory functional characteristics of this disease, 21 patients were evaluated using pulse oximetry and spirometry at two times: an initial evaluation and after around 28 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two (9.5%) patients presented peripheral oxygen saturation of less than 95%. Normal spirometric patterns were observed in eight (38.1%); cases restrictive ventilatory disorders were inferred in seven (33.3%), obstructive disorders with reduced forced vital capacity in four (19%), and nonspecific disorders in two (9.5%). Abnormal spirometry findings were associated with worse APACHE II scores (p = 0.02) and abnormalities on chest x-ray (p = 0.05). After clinical resolution, significant functional gain was observed (p < 0.05) in the group of patients with abnormal spirometry findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that respiratory functional abnormalities were detected during the course of the disease and were associated with greater clinical severity and higher frequency of chest radiographic abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, SE. apargolo@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Ana Paula Argolo
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Fontes
authors.forename: Diogo Piva
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Larissa Smith Barreto de
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Jesus
authors.forename: Maria Luíza Dória
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Angela Maria da
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry; D012119:Respiration; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013147:Spirometry; D055815:Young Adult