Abstract
The pulmonary function was evaluated in 122 cases with sarcoidosis, particularly with regard to peripheral airway dysfunction. The 122 cases with sarcoidosis in Toranomon Hospital over the past 17 years consisted of 71 males and 51 females; one stage 0 case, 63 stage I cases and 58 stage II cases. The data were compared between stage I and II.
There were no significant differences in mean values of FEV1.0%, %MMF, RV/TLC, PMI, Cst, Cdyn60/Cst, RL, %DLCO/VA and PaO2 between stage I and II groups. However, significant decreases in mean values of %VC, %DLCO and PaCO2 were observed in the stage II group. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of pulmonary function impairment between stage I and II groups. Frequency dependence of dynamic compliance was present in 6 of 12 stage I patients (50%) and in 11 of 18 stage II patients (61%) with normal pulmonary resistance (RL), regardless of their smoking habits. There was a close correlation (r=0.538, p<0.01) between PaO2 and Cdyn60/Cst, but no correlation between PaO2 and %DLCO/VA.
The data of frequency-dependent dynamic compliance and normal pulmonary resistence (RL) observed in stage I and II patients suggest that there might be peripheral airway dysfunction in sarcoidosis.
