[Lung function in tobacco growers suffering from exogenous allergic alveolitis]

Overall 38 patients suffering from exogenous allergic alveolitis of tobacco growers including 28 with alveolitis running its course by the type of bronchitis, 8 with alveolitis which ran its course by the type of bronchial asthma, and 6 with alveolitis running its course by the type of recurrent pneumonia were examined. In all the three variants of alveolitis, the obstructive syndrome associated with pulmonary hyperinflation was predominant in the picture of the functional parameters. Marked restriction of the lungs was recorded in rare cases, the decrease of the diffusion lung capacity was mainly detected by the steady state method. Arterial hypoxemia was detectable at rest and during physical exercise. Distributive disorders turned out to be the main cause of hypoxemia.