Clinical effects of long-term spa therapy on pulmonaryemphysema. Evaluation by pulmonary function and pathological changes of terminal airspace of the lung

Clinical effects of long-term spa therapy for 4 years were estimated in 8 patients of pulmonary emphysema (4 with spa therapy and 4 without spa therapy) by pulmonary function and morphological changes of peripheral airspaces of the lung on high - resolution computed tomography (HRCT). 1 . The values of % FVC, % FEV1.0, and FEV 1.0% did not significantly change for 4year observation both in patients with spa therapy and those without spa therapy. 2. The OLco value significantly decreased from 69.9% at the initial level to 48.8% after 4-year observation in patients without spa therapy (pDLco value did not significantly decrease in patients with spa therapy. 3. The values of % RV and % LAA of the lung showed a significant increase in patients without spa therapy (% RV: ptherapy. 4. The CT number also significantly decreased in patients without spa therapy, but not in those with spa therapy. The results suggest that spa therapy improves % DLco, % RV and morphological changes of peripheral airspaces, chiefly overinflation, of the lung in patients with pulmonary emphysema.