Effect of treatment on pulmonary functions in chronic severe anaemia

Pulmonary functions were measured in 15 patients with severe chronic anaemia (haemoglobin level < 5 g/dl). The measurements were repeated after correction of anaemia (Hb > 10 g/dl). Twenty age and sex matched, asymptomatic, non-smoker subjects served as controls. There was 80-100% improvement in various lung functions after correction of anaemia. Effort dependent parameters, viz FVC, ERV, IC, MVV were low in anaemic patients which improved with the rise of haemoglobin. The TLCO, DM, VC, KCO were not significantly influenced during anaemic state. FEV1, PEFR, RV/TLC were essentially normal. We conclude that the observed changes produced in lung functions during anaemic state are fully reversible after its correction.