Abnormalities of pulmonary blood flow during cold exposure in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The aim is to determine whether pulmonary blood flow is altered during cold exposure of the hands in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Cold exposure was induced by immersion of the hands, one at a time, in 10 degrees C water in nine SLE patients in whom pulmonary fibrosis had been ruled out by a routine examination. Lung perfusion was measured by continuous venous infusion of krypton 81 m. Cold exposure to at least one of the hands caused an 8 to 22% decrease of pulmonary blood flow in five of the nine patients. A 10 to 33% increase in flow developed in three of the nine patients during cold exposure of the hands. We conclude that these abnormalities in pulmonary blood flow during cold exposure were revealed in SLE patients with scarcely any clinical symptoms.