[Content of free and bound water fractions and adhesion properties of sputum in patients with acute focal pneumonia].

Dilatometry was used to measure the sputum content of free and bound water in 28 patients with acute focal pneumonias during the acute period of the disease and in the phase of remission. The adhesion properties of the sputum were studied in parallel. The status of the mucociliary defense system was assessed in terms of the time of excretion with the sputum of inhaled own hemoglobin. During the acute disease period, changes in tracheobronchial secretion were identified. They were manifested by high adhesion of the sputum, an increase in it of bound and a reduction of free water fractions. The rate of mucociliary transport was appreciably lowered. During remission, water fractions were found to be redistributed at the expense of the rise of free and decrease of bound ones. That was associated with a decrease of the adhesion properties of the sputum and normalization of mucociliary transport. Therefore, the measurement of water fractions in the sputum is an important diagnostic criterion for evaluation of the status of the mucociliary defense system.