[Effects of systemic glucocorticoid hormones on functional indices of the respiratory system in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during acute phase].

Aim: To evaluate influence of the treatment with systemic glucocorticoid hormones (SGH) during acute exacerbation of moderate and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on parameters of respiratory function.

Material And Methods: A total of 66 patients with severe COPD were included in the study. Airway resistance and lung volumes were measured with plethysmography, lung diffusion capacity - with a single breath method (TLCO SB) and saturation of blood with oxygen was measured with a method of pulseoximetry at admission of patients to a hospital and on day 14 of SGH treatment.

Results: Improvement of FEV1 by 26.3%, and a decrease in airway resistance by 44.2% (group 1) were observed only in 20 of 66 patients. In 46 patients improvement of airflow obstruction has not taken place (group 2). Dynamics of lung diffusion capacity and oxygen blood saturation were positive in both investigated groups of patients. TLCO SB has increased by 47.6% in group 1 and by 15.5% in group 2. O2 saturation has increased by 3.2 and 3.1%, respectively.

Conclusion: COPD symptoms attenuation in patients treated with SCH was associated with an increase in lung diffusion capacity and blood oxygen. Parameters of standard spirometry (FEV1 and FEV1/FVC do not reflect positive results of therapy.