Abstract
An increase of bronchial blood flow in pulmonary tuberculosis was estimated from the earpiece dye-dilution curve following dye injection into the femoral vein. Increased bronchial blood flow was found in 18 of 67 patients. Sex, age and duration of the disease were not found correlated with the frequency of increased bronchial blood flow. The cases of small lesions did not show any increased bronchial blood flow, while the cases with large area of tuberculous lesions had increased flow frequently. Tuberculous cavities were apparently associated with increased flow of the bronchial artery, but there was no correlation between increased flow of the bronchial artery and positive tubercle bacilli in the sputum. High frequency of increased flow was observed in far advanced cases, while cases of fibrotic or disseminated foci did not show any increased flow. The flow of the bronchial artery was not found increased in cases of marked or moderate improvement, but it was frequently increased in cases of persistence or aggravation of the disease. It is suggested that the development of the bronchial circulation is not associated with healing process of pulmonary tuberculosis, but related to progress of the disease.
