[Pulmonary function disturbances in patients with hepatic cirrhosis]

The results of five pulmonary function tests on 52 patients with uncompensated hepatic cirrhosis were presented. Compared with matched healthy adults, the patients had decreased values of VC, TLC and DLCO, and their RV/TLC increased (P < 0.05-0.001). Possible pathogenic factors were investigated. The ascites showed evident influences on pulmonary function. In addition to the disorders detected by the above 4 tests, FRC decreased in the patients with ascites. A comparison between the patients with albumin below 30g/L and the patients with albumin above 30g/L revealed that reduced plasma albumin also played role in decreasing VC, TLC and DLCO. Besides the effects of ascites, severe varices of esophagus should have relation to the increase of RV/TLC and the decrease of DLCO.