[Maximal respiratory pressures and exercise tolerance in patients with COPD]. / Maksymalne cisnienia oddechowe i tolerancja wysilku u chorych na przewlekla obturacyjna chorobe pluc.

UNLABELLED: Many authors reported respiratory muscle function impairment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Impaired respiratory muscle function may contribute exercise intolerance which is frequently observed in this disease. AIM OF THE STUDY: was to determine the influence of respiratory muscle function on exercise capacity in patients with COPD. METHODS: 23 patients with stable COPD aged 62.7 +/- 9.3 years (6F, 17M; mean post-bronchodilator FEV1 = 47.9 +/-12.4% value predicted) participated in the study. Exercise capacity was assessed by the six-minute walk test and the incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on a treadmill. Maximal respiratory pressures (PImax, PEmax) were evaluated before and directly after CPET. RESULTS: The mean peak oxygen uptake (VO max) was 27.2 +/- 6.1 mlO2/min/kg and the mean distance walked during the 6MWT was 569.4 +/- 101.7 m. Both PIMax and PE max decreased significantly after maximal exercise (71.4 +/-23.0 vs 63.6 +/- 22.2 cmH2O, p = 0.001 and 124.9 +/- 46.5 vs 112.3 +/- 46.6 cm H2O, p = 0.02 respectively). No correlation between VO2max and the 6-minute walk distance and the maximal respiratory pressures was found. We observed a negative correlation between the 6-minute walk distance and the difference between the pre- and post CPET maximal inspiratory pressure. CONCLUSIONS: respiratory muscle function is impaired in patients with COPD but this does not affect exercise performance. Exercise causes a decrease of the respiratory muscle strength.

[The interpretation of carbon monoxide diffusing capacity test depending of hemoglobin concentration]. / Interpretacja badania zdolnosci dyfuzyjnej pluc w zaleinosci od stezenia hemoglobiny krwi.

UNLABELLED: The carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO) is among others dependent of the hemoglobin value. The result of DLCO test in patients with anemia change when we adjust DLCO for hemoglobin (Hb) concentration. The aim of the study was to estimate if the differences between result of DLCO and DLCO/VA before and after adjust the Hb value can change the interpretation of the test in the group with normal and low value of Hb. The study group consist of 25 patients with normal level of Hb (group A) and 21 ones with anemia (group B). All studied have been done spirometry, bodypletyzmografy and DLCO test. All tests were made on the SensorMedics. The DLCO test was made in the single breath diffusing capacity program Results. The values of the Hb in the group A were above 13 g/dl for female and 14 g/dl for man. In the group B the Hb value were less then 10 g/dl. In the group A the middle Hb concentration was 14,49 +/- 1,36g/dl. DLCO and DLCO/VA before and after Hb value adjusted were 91,4 +/-17,98 vs 90,7 +/- 17,58 % i 101,5 +/- 19,46 vs 100,7 +/- 18,65% (p>0,05). In the group B the middle Hb concentration was 8,77 +/- 0,97 g/dl. DLCO and DLCO/VA before and after Hb value adjusted were: 57,05+/-17,55 vs 72,19+/-25,27% i 67,57+/-11,18 vs 84,66+/-14,62% (p< 0,05). CONCLUSIONS: 1. The were non statistically important change in the DLCO test results after consideration on Hb level in the studied group without anemia, so in the patients with normal level of Hb the DLCO test result doesn't change the interpretation of the test after the consideration on Hb concentration 2. In patients with anemia we shout adjust the Hb value to the DLCO test because the results with out this can completely change the interpretation of the test and clinical diagnosis