Pulmonary function in alcoholics

Emirgil, Cemil; Sobol, Bruce J.; Heymann, Bernard; Shibutani, K.

doi:10.1016/0002-9343(74)90770-0

Cited by 54 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Banner observed that nearly half of the patients admitted to an alcohol detoxification unit had airflow obstruction on spirometry and almost all had in gas diffusion impairment that could not be explained on the basis of cigarette smoking (Banner, 1973). The findings were confirmed by Emirgil and correlated to symptoms of chronic bronchitis and shortness of breath in a similar group of alcoholics (Emirgil et al, 1974). A later study by Emirgil in 1977 studied pulmonary function in 44 abstinent members of Alcoholics Anonymous and found that 64% had airflow obstruction and 16% and 17% exhibited significant air trapping and/or impaired diffusion, respectively (Emirgil and Sobol, 1977).…”

Section: Clinical Studies Of Alcohol and Copdmentioning

confidence: 77%

Alcohol and airways function in health and disease

Sisson

2007

Alcohol

136

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The volatility of alcohol promotes the movement of alcohol from the bronchial circulation across the airway epithelium and into the conducting airways of the lung. The exposure of the airways through this route likely accounts for many of the biologic effects of alcohol on lung airway functions. The impact of alcohol on lung airway functions is dependent on the concentration, duration and route of exposure. Brief exposure to mild concentrations of alcohol may enhance mucociliary clearance, stimulates bronchodilation and probably attenuates the airway inflammation and injury observed in asthma and COPD. Prolonged and heavy exposure to alcohol impairs mucociliary clearance, may complicate asthma management and likely worsens outcomes including lung function and mortality in COPD patients. Non-alcohol congeners and alcohol metabolites act as triggers for airway disease exacerbations especially in atopic asthmatics and in Asian populations who have a reduced capacity to metabolize alcohol. Research focused on the mechanisms of alcohol-mediated changes in airway functions has identified specific mechanisms that mediate alcohol effects within the lung airways. These include prominent roles for the second messengers calcium and nitric oxide, regulatory kinases including PKG and PKA, alcohol and acetaldehyde-metabolizing enzymes such as aldehyde dehydrogenase type 2 (ALDH2). The role alcohol may play in the pathobiology of airway mucus, bronchial blood flow, airway smooth muscle regulation and the interaction with other airway exposure agents, such as cigarette smoke, represent opportunities for future investigation.

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Section: Clinical Studies Of Alcohol and Copdmentioning

confidence: 77%

Alcohol and airways function in health and disease

Sisson

2007

Alcohol

136

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“…However, there are only a few previous studies which examine the effects of chronic alcohol abuse on pulmonary function. Emirgil and colleagues reported that the total lung capacity, residual volume, forced vital capacity at one second, and diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide progressively declined with an increasing history of alcohol consumption (21). However, when other studies properly accounted for several confounding variables such as cigarette smoking, the effect of alcohol consumption on pulmonary function was not statistically significant (22)(23)(24).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Chronic Alcohol Abuse on Pulmonary Glutathione Homeostasis

Moss

Guidot

Wong-Lambertina

et al. 2000

Am J Respir Crit Care Med

197

168

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The incidence and severity of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is increased in critically ill patients with a prior history of chronic alcohol abuse; however, the specific mechanisms responsible for this association are unknown. Recently, we determined that chronic ethanol ingestion in rats decreased the alveolar epithelial lining fluid (ELF) concentration of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH), which is a characteristic finding in patients with ARDS. However, the effects of chronic alcohol abuse on the human alveolar epithelium are essentially unknown. Therefore, as a first step we asked if chronic alcohol abuse, independent of other comorbid conditions, decreases the concentration of GSH in the human lung. We determined that otherwise healthy chronic alcoholics had significantly decreased ELF concentrations of GSH compared with nonalcoholic control subjects (79 micromol [48 to 118 micromol] versus 576 micromol [493 to 728 mmol], p < 0.001). Furthermore, the percentage of GSH in the oxidized form was higher in the chronic alcoholics (9.8% [2.2 to 14.8%] versus 2.8% [0.4 to 4.0%] p = 0.05), indicative of increased utilization of GSH. This is the first report that chronic alcohol abuse alters GSH homeostasis in the human lung, and suggests a potential mechanism by which chronic alcohol abuse predisposes susceptible patients to develop ARDS.

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“…In 1967, Burch and DePasquale (12) were the first to speculate that alcohol, by itself, may injure the lung parenchyma. In the 1970s, alcohol abuse initially was reported to have deleterious effects on pulmonary physiology (13), although when the effects of several potential confounding variables, such as smoking, were adjusted for, this was not substantiated (14 -16).…”

Section: Alcohol Abusementioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic alcohol abuse, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and multiple organ dysfunction

Moss

Burnham

2003

Critical Care Medicine

114

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Chronic alcohol abuse is associated with an increased incidence of ARDS and the severity of multiple organ dysfunction. This research has implications in understanding the diagnosis of, and prognosis for, critically ill patients who are at risk of developing ARDS. It also may lead to the development of novel therapies for those patients at greatest risk of acute lung injury as a consequence of chronic alcohol abuse.

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Pulmonary function in alcoholics

Cited by 54 publications

References 17 publications

Alcohol and airways function in health and disease

Alcohol and airways function in health and disease

The Effects of Chronic Alcohol Abuse on Pulmonary Glutathione Homeostasis

Chronic alcohol abuse, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and multiple organ dysfunction

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