Effects of fever on pulmonary diffusing capacity and pulmonary mechanics in man

¹ Pulmonary Laboratory, Pratt Clinic-New England Center Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

Measurements of oral temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, expired minute volume (Ve), respiratory rate (f), O₂ consumption (Vo₂), CO₂ excretion (Vco₂), breath-holding pulmonary diffusing capacity (Dl_CO), dynamic pulmonary compliance (C_dyn), and total pulmonary resistance were made on six normal adults before and at regular intervals over an 8-hr period following the induction of fever with triple typhoid vaccine. Although Ve, f, Vo₂ increased during the chill, flush, and defervescence phases of fever, there was no significant change in C_dyn and total pulmonary resistance. Of interest was the slight, though statistically significant decrease in Dl_CO during the flush and defervescence phases. Results suggest a low temperature coefficient for the mechanical properties of the lung in the range studied. The absence of an increased Dl_CO during the flush phase of fever when Ve and the cardiac output are known to increase suggests that ventilation and pulmonary blood flow are not important determinants of Dl_CO.

Submitted on February 18, 1963