World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST IN PATIENTS WITH SCLERODERMA

Dr. Abdul Wahab Abbas Al- Mindilawi, Dr. Kassim Mohamed Sultan and Dr. Lamyaa Ali Hasan*

ABSTRACT

Background: Scleroderma is a multisystem disorder of unknown cause characterized by fibrosis of the skin, blood vessels and visceral organs, including gastrointestinal tract, lungs, heart and kidney. Respiratory manifestations are progressive dyspnea, precordial chest pain due to pulmonary hypertension and dry persistent cough due to restrictive lung disease. Pulmonary hypertension and its complications are the most frequent causes of mortality, Survival time averages12 years from diagnosis. Objectives: To evaluate pulmonary function test in patients with scleroderma. Patients and methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Rheumatology unit in Baghdad teaching hospital over a period from 1st of October 2005 to 15th of July 2006 to 20 patients with scleroderma (one male and 19 female). These patients diagnosed as scleroderma in rheumatology unit in Baghdad teaching hospital according to American college of rheumatology criteria. Complete history, review of systems, clinical examination with special concentration on chest exam then chest X- ray (CXR), and pulmonary function test (FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC) were done to all patients. Results: Most of scleroderma patients have restrictive pulmonary defect on pulmonary function test (PFT), and the presence of exertional dyspnea and dry cough in scleroderma patients can predict abnormal PFT. More than half of patients show slight restrictive pattern in pulmonary function test while quarter of them show moderate to high restrictive pattern. Three quarter of patients with restrictive pattern have respiratory symptoms and more than half of them have chest x- ray findings. Conclusion: Pulmonary function tests are essential in assessing patients with scleroderma and it should be performed in every patient with respiratory symptoms to assess functional status of patients even when CXR is normal.

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