[Results of comprehensive respiratory function tests in CNSLD (author's transl)]

34 persons with CNSLD, but fit for work, were examined with the aim to record the degree of disturbance of pulmonary function and the underlying pathophysiological mechanism. The results were compared with 30 healthy subjects. The following function tests were carried out under resting conditions and bicycle ergometer exercises: Analysis of ventilation (FVC% pred., FEV1% FVC, RV% pred., RV% TLC), analysis of lung mechanic (Raw, CL) measurement of diffusion (DL, DM, Vc, DL% pred.) and analysis of lung inhomogeneity (RE/REO, V2/V1, CL6/CL100, deltaFN2/deltaV500, deltaFCO2/deltaV500,IHB). The results were analyzed and evaluated by using the digital computer C 8205. Persons suffering from CNSLD were showing among typical clinical symptoms the following disturbances of lung function: The obstructive ventilation disturbance stands in the foreground in connection with signs of inhomogeneity of lung mechanics and ventilation. While the resistance already shows the airway obstruction objectively under resting conditions, the decreased compliance is measurable at first under exercise. The disturbance of diffusion, which is pointed out, is mainly a latent decreased diffusing capacity of alveolo-capillary membrane. These disturbance of diffusion gets more importance because the inhomogeneity of lung hides the real disturbance of diffusion. The pathophysiological consequence of disturbed partial functions of respiration is the latent hypoxaemia without hypercapnia, therefore the signs of respiratory partial insufficiency.