Abstract
Changes in the arterial 2, 3-diphosphoglycerate (2, 3-DPG) concentrations and factors affecting the mechanism of oxygen transfer were examined. First of all, experimental pneumonitis was induced in mature rabbits by injecting N-methyl-N-nitrosourethane. These experiments were done in order to study above these changes without influence of oxygen inhalation which was usually indispensable in clinical cases with pulmonary insufficiency.
In subjects with chronic pulmonary insufficiency, a significant increase in 2, 3-DPG levels and a negative correlation between 2, 3-DPG and PaO2 were disclosed. In chronic hypercapnic patients (PaCO2 48 torr>) the increase of 2, 3-DPG level was alleviated by effects of hypoxemia and acidosis.
In contrast to the clinical cases, the sequential changes of 2, 3-DPG showed a close correlation with the gradual decrease of PaO2 in the experimental pulmonary insufficiency.
These findings suggest that 2, 3-DPG levels were determined by PaO2 in chronic hypoxic patients and by PaO2 and pH in chronic hypercapnic patients.
P50 levels were within normal range in 9 patients with chronic pulmonary insufficiency with normal pH levels.
