Effect of diuretics on some respiratory function tests in bilharzial patients with and without ascites

ABSTRACT

This work comprised 20 male bilharzial patients, devided into 2 groups, 10 bilharzial patients without ascites, 10 patients with ascites and in addition, 10 healthy subjects as a control group. All cases were subjected to thorough history taking, complete clinical examination and the following investigations urine and stool analysis, blood urea, serum creatinine, x-ray chest, electrocardiography and ventilatory function tests particulary 1C, ERV, FVC, FEV[1], MVV, FMEF, FMEFT, FEF and AVI. Percutaneous transsplenic portal manometry was done for nonascetic and ascitic group, and the intraperitoneal presure was measured for ascitic group only. Bilharzial patients without ascites have obstructive ventilary defect only, while patients with ascitis has combined obstructive and restrictive defects, and diuretics improved these defects. There is negative correlation between portal venous pressure and intraperitoneal pressure and all ventilatory function tests except FMEFT where the correlation is positive. From the preceeding we can see that diuretics are of value in improving organ funciton not only in the ascitic bilharzial patients but also in the non ascitic cases and wherever oedema is interferring with function i.e. interference with digestion in patients with portal hypertension or ascites, and interference with ventilation due to oedema of the bronchial mucosa