[Diagnosis of lung function in patients with ankylosing spondylitis]

In a group of 55 men of 18 to 58 years of age who were suffering from ankylosing spondylitis, changes in lung function were analysed by measuring the static parameters and by differentiating between the thoracic and abdominal parts in breathing at rest and under stress, using CO2 rebreathing. In accordance with the reduction in vital capacity, the thoracic share is restricted already at rest. At rest, there is compensation via the abdominal compartment, in contrast to the stress in CO2 rebreathing in which the abdominal part does not compensate.