Abstract
We studied 31 patients who had sarcoidosis but no treatment or any other respiratory disease, to determine relations among their pulmonary functions, especially small airway functions by Flow-Volume curves, radiographic stage, and clinical symtoms. Ventilatory functions were within normal limits, except in 3 cases, whereas small airway dysfunction (SAD), represented by any abnormality of %V50, %V25. %V50/V25, was detected in 15 cases. The mean values and prevalence of impairment in %V50, %V25, %V50/V25 were not affected by the radiographic stage or smoking, but the mean value of %DLco was significantly decreased in Stages II -III (n=9) compared to Stages 0- I (n=21) . The mean value of %V25 was significantly decreased in the group with respiratory symptoms (n=7) compared to the asymptomatic group (n=14), and 6 patients of the group with respiratory symptoms revealed SAD by some abnormality of %V50, %V25, %V50/V25. For other pulmonary function data, there was no significant difference between the two groups. The results suggest that SAD in patients with sarcoidosis is connected with the appearance of respiratory symptoms.
