The airways changes in patients with chronic bronchitis during the longterm dispensary follow-up

Abstract

The prolonged study of airway pass was performed in 94 patients with various entities of chronic bronchitis (CB). The dynamics of airway pass was evaluated according to year averaged reductions (YAR) of FEV₁. This index was compared with physiological reduction standard (0.03 1). The negative dynamics of YAR FEV₁ was found in all the entities of CB but in most cases in chronic obstructive bronchitis (COB) In these cases FEV₁ diminution to the critical level (1.0 1) was occurred. After that the further decrease of FEV₁ wasn’t noted, if particularly the treatment was proceeded. In patients with chronic non-obstructive bronchitis YAR FEV₁ was less expressed, but in most cases, the negative dynamics was occurred. The YAR FEV₁ study in patients with CB with reversible airway limitation was difficult because of clinical courses variations and occurrence of the negative dynamics. Therefore, the YAR FEV₁ index may be available as one of diagnostic criteria in estimation of functional state dynamics in patients with various entities of CB.