[Hypokininemia in chronic bronchitis caused by cotton dust]

Examination of 102 patients who developed bronchitis due to exposure to cotton dust running a complicated or noncomplicated course recognized a moderate hyperkininemia in 40% of cases (4.46 +/- 0.43 against the normal 2.90 +/- 0.42) and apparent hypokininemia in 60-63% of cases (0.52 +/- 0.03 against 2.90 +/- 0.42). Hypokininemia appeared in association with pathological shifts in external respiration and central hemodynamics. It is an unfavourable factor contributing to formation of occupation complications of chronic bronchitis: pulmonary emphysema, pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale.