The effect of orciprenaline on pulmonary function has been studied in 21 patients, 10 with bronchial obstruction (group I) and 11 with restrictive diseases (group II), of both sexes. The drug was used in oral form (40 and 80 mgr/day) during 10 days. Lung volumes, airway resistance, alveolar-arterial O2 and CO2 tension differences, venous admixture, CO diffusing capacity and acid-base status was determined before and after treatment.  The changes observed depended on individual way of response. The bronchodilating effect of orciprenaline produced, in some cases, normalization of lung volumes in patients with hyperinflation, or making the restrictive pattern more evident in patients of this kind. In others, there was an improvement of alveolar ventilation, reduction of VD/VT ratio or decreasing the CO2 gradient, suggesting less uneveness of ventilation-perfusion ratios. Six patients f...

The effect of orciprenaline on pulmonary function has been studied in 21 patients, 10 with bronchial obstruction (group I) and 11 with restrictive diseases (group II), of both sexes. The drug was used in oral form (40 and 80 mgr/day) during 10 days. Lung volumes, airway resistance, alveolar-arterial O2 and CO2 tension differences, venous admixture, CO diffusing capacity and acid-base status was determined before and after treatment.  The changes observed depended on individual way of response. The bronchodilating effect of orciprenaline produced, in some cases, normalization of lung volumes in patients with hyperinflation, or making the restrictive pattern more evident in patients of this kind. In others, there was an improvement of alveolar ventilation, reduction of VD/VT ratio or decreasing the CO2 gradient, suggesting less uneveness of ventilation-perfusion ratios. Six patients f...