Scleroderma

Respiratory Function in Progressive Systemic Sclerosis

“…They found reduction in lung volumes and low arterial oxygen saturation associated with hyperventilation in three patients with progressive systemic sclerosis in a series of 39 patients with pulmonary fibrosis. Similar observations have been made by others (Spain and Thomas, 1950;West, McClement, Carroll, Bliss, Kuschner, Richards, and Cournand, 1951 ;Salomon, Appel, Dougherty, Herschfus, and Segal, 1955;Marks, Cugell, Cadigan, and Gaensler, 1957;Miller, Fowler, and Helmholz, 1959;Tranquada, Simmons, and Miller, 1960) Respiratory function in progressive systemic sclerosi1…”

Lung Function in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis

“…No improvement was shown in the three patients reported by Salomon et al (1955) or in the patient reported by West et al (1951). In the patients on whom serial lung function tests were performed, the diffusing capacity was not significantly improved by steroids, though the vital capacity was almost doubled in one instance.…”

“…A different functional pattern was described by Salomon, Appel, Dougherty, Herschfus, and Segal (1955). They described three patients, all of whom had an increased total lung capacity and residual volume whilst two had severe reduction of the vital capacity with increased R.V.…”