[Pulmonary diffusion capacity in patients with previous myocardial infarct (with respect to the influence of smoking and pulmonary congestion)].

Pulmonary diffusive capacity by the carbon monoxide method was evaluated in 43 patients two years after myocardial infarction, and without evidence of other types of heart disease. The patients did not have primary lung disease or clinic bronchitis. Special interest was given to the effects of cigarrette smoking and moderate pulmonary congestion. A significant decrease in diffusion capacity was observed in smokers and former smokers compared to none smokers. In moderate pulmonary congestive the oposite effects was registered. pO2 was decreased in half the patients with old myocardial infarction but there was no significant statistical correlations with D1co values. Mean values for pO2, pCO2, pH, EB did not show statistically valid differences among the subgroups under study. Different factors which may influence the evaluation of diffusion capacity are discussed.