Alterations in the pulmonary function tests of inflammatory bowel diseases

We aimed to determine the changes in the pulmonary function tests of the patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. Forty inflammatory bowel dieases patients; 30 ulcerative colitis and 10 Crohn's disease, and ageand sex-matched control group, consisting of 30 healthy persons, were included in the study. Disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis was assessed by Truelove and Witts Criteria and in Crohn's disease patients by Chron's Disease Activity Index. Pulmonary function tests were found abnormal at least in one parameter in 17/30 ulcerative colitis patients (56%) and in 5/10 Crohn's disease patients (50%) in the activation period and in 5/30 ulcerative colitis patients (17%) and in 2/10 Crohn's disease patients (20%) in the remission period of the diseases of the same patients. Forced vital capacity, first second, residual volume/total lung capacity, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide per liter alveolar volume values were found significantly impaired in the activation period in comparison with the values of the same patients in the remission period (p