Effects of alcohol on respiratory variables in normal humans

1369-1600

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Medicine

The study is designed to clarify the effect of low doses of alcohol on respiratory variables in air breathing normal subjects. Each subject was given an initial loading dose of alcohol (0.270 g/kg) followed, half an hour later, by a second dose (0.135 g/kg). Blood alcohol increased to a mean value of 52.0 ± 3.0 (SEM) mg/100 ml at 1 hour. Resting ventilation increased significantly from a mean value of 6.25 ± 0.41 litres min−1 to 7.20 ± 0.31 litres min−1 1 hour after alcohol (p= 0.025). Mean inspiratory flow was also increased (p= 0.045). Endtidal PCO2 (PET CO2) showed a highly significant fall (1.87 ± 0.35 mm Hg; p 〈 0.001) without a significant change in CO2 production rate (p 〉 0.05). PET CO2 variability (100 × SD/mean) was low (mean 2.4%) and unaffected by alcohol. The longest end-expiratory pauses (apnoeas) observed for each subject were shortened significantly by alcohol (1.030 ± 0.194 s and 0.690 ± 0.138 s; p = 0.01). Moderate doses of alcohol in normal subjects, therefore lower PET CO2 and shorten end-expiratory pauses (apnoeic periods) but do not affect PET CO2 variability.

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