[Obstructive ventilatory disorders in pulmonary tuberculosis]

The results of the clinico-roentgenologic and functional examination of 434 patients with different forms of pulmonary tuberculosis were subjected to analysis. The obstructive syndrome of ventilation disorders was detected in more than 60% of pulmonary tuberculosis patients. The prevalent significance in its pathogenesis was played by disorders of patency of fine bronchi and air distribution in the lungs. They were associated with extension and activity of the processes and their tendency to acquire a chronic form and with the action of nonspecific factors on the bronchi, which included smoking, work under dust-contaminated conditions, concurrent nonspecific pulmonary diseases, nonspecific changes of the principal bronchi revealed by bronchoscopy and structural nonspecific changes of the peripheral air ways detected by a morphologic study of the resected material. A bronchospastic component was responsible for the broncho-obstructive syndrome in 57% of the patients.