Ventilatory Function in Pregnancy

Abstract

In this investigation 60 pregnant patients underwent serial estimation of forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume (FEV1) throughout pregnancy and after delivery. No significant change occurred in the group mean figures of these measurements of ventilatory function. When patients were divided into those who were non-smokers and those who smoked more than 10 cigarettes daily it appeared that both FVC and FEV1 during the last 8 weeks of pregnancy were slightly reduced in the smokers. Previous studies on the effects of pregnancy upon ventilatory function are reviewed. In this report individual patients had greater variation in both amount and direction of serial recordings than was shown by control subjects. This individual variation may have been responsible for the conflict in some earlier reports which studied smaller numbers of patients. It is suggested that the maintenance of FEV1 and FVC during pregnancy in spite of increasing uterine size and increasing blood volume is the result of hormonal action upon the brain stem, chest wall and lung.

Pregnancy and The Lung1,2

“…With some minor exceptions, most studies have tended to confirm this pattern of change (l, [33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42]. In particular, there is a consistent decrease in ERV late in pregnancy, with values ranging from 8 to 40 070 less than nonpregnant control values.…”

“…The numerous studies that have examined flows throughout the course of pregnancy have consistently demonstrated no alterations in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV,) or the ratio of FEV\ to the forced vital capacity (FVC) (33)(34)(35)(36)(41)(42)(43), suggesting that large airway function is not impaired during pregnancy. In an early study of total pulmonary resistance in pregnancy, Rubin and co-workers (42) presented data supporting a decreased total pulmonary resistance in late pregnancy.…”

The respiratory response to pregnancy

“…Cameron, Bain and Grant, 1970;Sims, Chamberlain and de Swiet, 1976;Milne et al, 1977c). However, there is disagreement as to what happens to airways resistance (Raw) measured during quiet respiration.…”

Failure to Demonstrate Immunoglobulin E in Glomeruli of Patients With Various Nephropathies

“…fibrinogen and imniiinoglobulins, notably IgE. T h e nomenclature used for the description of light microscopic findings was principally in accordance with that of Canieron ( 6 ) . A variety of kidney ailments, including transplants, were studied.…”