BLOOD-GASES AND ACID-BASE-BALANCE IN CHILDREN WITH BRONCHIAL-ASTHMA

Forty-seven children, 1 to 17 years of age, with bronchial asthma were studied on 97 occasions during the symptom-free stage and during episodes of asthmatic symptoms of different degrees. Blood gases and acid-base balance were determined on 39 occasions from capillary blood samples and on 58 occasions from arterial blood samples. During the symptom-free stage, pH, carbon dioxide tension, base excess, standard bicarbonate and arterial oxygen tension remained within normal limits. During asthmatic attacks, the mean pH, base excess and standard bicarbonate were significantly lower than during the symptom-free stage. The mean carbon dioxide tension was normal but varied greatly. Hypoxemia occurred even with very mild signs of asthma and was significantly correlated to the severity of the asthmatic symptoms. © 1978 Springer-Verlag.