Abnormalities of Pulmonary Vascular Dynamics and Inflammation In Early Progressive Systemic Sclerosis

✍ Scribed by Daniel E. Furst; James A. Davis; Phillip J. Clements; Sawtantra K. Chopra; Argyrios N. Theofilopoulos; David Chia

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1981
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 516 KB
• Volume: 24
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0004-3591
• DOI: 10.1002/art.1780241111

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Abnormalities of pulmonary function were studied in 10 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) and 3 control subjects. All underwent ^81^M krypton lung scanning and total body gallium scanning. Immune complexes were measured by Raji cell radio–immunoassay and polyethylene glycol (PEG) assay. Perfusion scans were abnormal in 7 of 9 patients, and 5 of 9 showed a decrease in pulmonary perfusion after cold challenge. Increased gallium uptake was noted in the lungs of 6 of 9 patients. Krypton scans were normal in the control group. Elevated immune complexes were noted in 8 of 10 patients by the Raji assay and in 5 of 10 with the PEG assay. Efforts to separate patients with PSS into subgroups may lead to a better understanding of and advances in therapy for PSS.