Gas Exchange in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Relationships with Pulmonary Poorly Communicating Fraction and Alveolar Volume

Tuberculosis-related lung damage is very different. Lung ventilation disorders have been studied in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) during the active process and after treatment, but main causes of gas exchange changes not sufficiently studied. Investigation diffusing capacity combination bodyplethysmography useful for interpretation disorders. The aim was to determine relationship value alveolar volume (VA) poorly communicating fraction (PCF) TB. A total 292 (117/175 M/W) verified TB smoking age less than 10 packs-years underwent spirometry, bodyplethysmography, DLCO by single-breath method. PCF estimated calculating difference between (TLC) VA (% TLC). Patients low had statistically significantly lower spirometric values (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, MMEF), TLC, higher airway resistance, RV/TLC, air-trapping volume, PCF. level were divided into four groups depending on In most infiltrative (50%), leading syndrome decrease alveolar-capillary damage. tuberculomas, syndromes capillary inhomogeneity same frequency (43%). disseminated tuberculosis, frequent (33%), then (29%) mixed (24%). cavernous (39%), (25%) (23%). surface reduction common (14%). conclusion, an additional evaluation increases amount clinical information obtained using diffusion measurements, since it allows identifying various impairment. impairment vary different types