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The articles on the history of Russian pulmonology presented in the historical, medical and therapeutic literature contain materials for this history, but their authors did not solve the problem of its consistent presentation, highlighting the stages of formation and founders. The authors of this study critically reviewed the literary and archival primary sources, for the first time proposed the identification of three stages in the development of Russian pulmonology and indicated eight of its founders at these stages. The abundance of material did not allow us to present it in one article. This article is devoted to the 1st stage of the history of pulmonology - the formation of the doctrine of lung diseases. The second (development of pulmonology as an independent scientific direction in internal diseases) and the third (organizational design of pulmonology as a new independent clinical scientific and educational discipline and medical specialty, i.e. its institutionalization) stages will be discussed in the next articles.

Among HIV-infected patients there are individuals with masked chronic diseases that affect life quality and life-span. Their timely detection and treatment can improve life quality of HIV-infected patients. The screening examination allows to establish prevalence level, structure and features of concomitant diseases under HIV- infection to provide timely medical preventive care.

Objective: To establish the indications for optimal open lung surgery in patients with severe blunt chest injury., Material and Methods: Hematomas, lung wounds and purulent pulmonary complications were studied in four groups of victims. Causes of injuries included road accidents ( n =426), falling and beating ( n =387), catatrauma ( n =217), squeezing the body with a massive weight ( n =46). Majority of victims ( n =731, 67.9%) were transferred to the hospital within 1-5 hours after injury; 345 (32.1%) patients were transferred from other hospitals to treat combined injuries of head, chest, abdomen and complications within 1-49 days after injury., Results: Lung surgery was applied in 48 patients. Typical resections and pneumonectomies made up 77.1%. Indications for surgery included lung wounds complicated by pulmonary hemorrhage grade IIa and severe hemothorax, intrapulmonary hematoma ≥6 cm with high risk of bleeding and suppuration, gangrene, gangrenous and purulent abscesses of aspiration genesis, lung cancer first diagnosed in victims. Postoperative mortality was 14.6%. Twelve victims with unrecognized deep lung wounds and pulmonary root rupture were not operated. Thus, 5.6% of victims with severe blunt chest trauma need for open lung surgery.

Granulomatous diseases are a heterogeneous group of the diseases of different etiology, which are manifested by a variety of clinical syndromes and variants of tissue changes, by non-uniform sensitivity to therapy, and by the predominance of the common dominant histologic sign - the presence of granulomas that determine the clinical and morphological essence of each disease. Granuloma is a chronic inflammatory response, which involves macrophages and other inflammatory cells. After exposure to an antigen, T-lymphocytes, macrophages, epithelioid cells, and multinucleated giant cells are activated, resulting in the formation of granulomas. Granuloma also includes the extracellular matrix produced by fibroblasts, which can demarcate and isolate the antigen. According to etiology, granulomatous diseases are classified as infectious and non-infectious. However, recent investigations demonstrate that pathogenic microorganisms can cause granulomas in diseases previously considered non-infectious. In some cases, it is very difficult to classify a granulomatous process as infectious and non-infectious. The aim of this paper is to draw the attention of readers to the diversity of granulomatous diseases, to describe the key points of pathological and anatomical manifestations of various non-infectious diseases, as well as to determine an approach to the differential diagnosis of granulomatoses.

Granulomatous diseases are a heterogeneous group of the diseases of different etiology, which are manifested by a variety of clinical syndromes and variants of tissue changes, by non-uniform sensitivity to therapy and by the predominance of the common dominant histologic sign - the presence of granulomas that determine the clinical and morphological essence of each disease. Granuloma is a chronic inflammatory response, which involves macrophages and other inflammatory cells. After antigen exposure, the activation of T lymphocytes, macrophages, epithelioid cells, and multinucleated giant cells results in granuloma formation. Granuloma also contains the extracellular matrix produced by fibroblasts, which can demarcate and isolate the antigen. Granulomatous diseases are classified by their etiology as infectious and non-infectious. However, recent investigations demonstrate that pathogenic microorganisms can cause granulomas in the diseases previously considered non-infectious. In some cases, it is very difficult to classify a granulomatous process as infectious and non-infectious. The aim of this paper is to draw the attention of readers to the diversity of granulomatous diseases, to describe the key points of pathological and anatomical manifestations of various infectious diseases, and to determine an approach to the differential diagnosis of granulomatoses.

Aim: To investigate the indicators of filling of the right ventricle (RV) in patients with chronic lung diseases with and without pulmonary hypertension (PH) compared to healthy individuals., Subjects and Methods: 365 people (198 men); mean age 64.6±8.0 years) were examined and divided into a group of patients with respiratory pathology without and with PH (n=124 and n=138, respectively) and a comparison group that included individuals without cardiovascular and respiratory diseases (n=103). All underwent echocardiography with examination of RV filling flows (Et, At, Et/At), data of the spectral tissue Doppler imaging of the fibrous ring of the tricuspid valve (e't, a't, e't/a't), and early tricuspid flow propagation velocity (ETFPV)., Results: All the groups were found to have an e't/a't decrease to 0.75 (0.63-0.90) - 0.8 (0.63-1.0; p=0.26). The groups showed no noticeable differences in indicators, such as Еt/Аt, e't/a't, and Еt/e't ratios, although the increased size of the right heart was noted in patients without PH along with the ETFPV decrease from 33.5 (28-39) to 31.5 (24.5-36) cm/sec, which continued to substantially decline to 27.1 (24-35) cm/sec in patients with PH (p<0.0001)., Conclusion: Patients with chronic lung disease even without the development of PH exhibited a decreased ETFPV along with the increased size of the right heart. Another indicator of RV diastolic function is a tricuspid valve annular velocity ratio in early and late diastole; the e't/a't ratio was not considerably different in the groups, although its decline was observed in all the groups probably due to age-related changes. Thus, RV diastolic function should be comprehensively evaluated in patients with lung disease regardless of the presence of PH.

Number of chemicals that induce occupational sensibilization is quite large and constantly increasing due to synthesis' of new compounds. Diagnosis of occupational allergic diseases requires thorough systemic approach. Study covered groups of patients that necessitate diagnosis of occupational disease (107 individuals): chemical production workers, gas- arc welder, medical staffers, aluminium production workers, with diagnosed occupational bronchopulmonary diseases. Direction of leucocytes migration in the diagnostic test used was comparable with type of a chemical under study. Correspondence of clinical manifestations and results of inhibited natural leucocytes migration test approximates 70% in chemical production workers and gas-arc welders; 85-90% - in medical staffers and 50% - in aluminium production workers.

The paper reviews literature on the current aspects of the diagnosis and expert appraisal of focal osteoplastic masses in the lung upon dust exposure to dust factors. It considers different aspects of the pathogenesis of osteoplastic changes in the tissue structural elements of pulmonary histione. Current views on the prevalence, etiology, and pathogenesis, as well as morphological changes in the development of this abnormality, its association with the dust damaging effects of human activities are reflected.

In patients of young age atical clinical course of community-acquired pneumonia may mask of interstitial lung disease causing systemic vasculitis. Lung damage occurs in the form of vasculitis with perivascular infiltration, interstitial pneumonia symptoms and various sequential processes up to necrosis of the lung tissue and pleurisy. A distinctive feature of vascular pneumonia is probability of development of plurivisceral damage with simultaneous involvement of heart, kidney, abdominal, skin, joints and hepatolienal syndromes into tfe pathohogical process. At suspicion on development of systemic vasculitis it requires to perform differential diagnosis with the use of immunological tests and X-ray examination of the chest. Lung disease in systemic vasculitis worsens prognosis and necessitates urgent therapeutic measures.

Studies of allowable (safe) length of service in occuptions of mining transport enterprise "Kostanaiskie mineral" JSC were conducted to forecast occurrence of dust lung diseases in workers exposed to chrysotile-asbestos dust. To calculate allowable length of service, the authors used values of average shift concentration of chrysotile-asbestos dust. Based on the calculated data of the allowable length of service in chrysotile-asbestos production, the authors forecasted course of dust lung diseases.

The lung provides not only respiration, but also the functioning of innate immunity mechanisms. The hydrophilic proteins SP-A and SP-D are responsible for the regulation of the latter. In the literature, there is evidence for elevated serum SP-A and SP-D levels in respiratory diseases accompanied by enhanced mucosal inflammation of the lung or its parenchymal injury and their association with age and cardiovascular diseases has been recently found. Studies of the efficiency of using SP-A and SP-D as specific markers for inflammatory lung diseases are presently worthwhile.

The results of treatment of 697 patients with different kinds of non-specific pleural empyema and gangrenous lesions of lungs are presented in the article. Need for complex and differentiated treatment of pleural empyema with obligatory use of thoracoscopy is revealed. High efficiency of early thoracoscopic sanitation improving outcomes and length of hospital stay is proved. Thoracoscopic necrosectomy is alternative and effective surgery in treatment of gangrenous lesions of lungs.

The article includes discharge epicrises of patients working in contact with quartz-containing dust, welding aerosol, cotton dust, irritant gases emitted in wood burning. Description covers cases of lung fibrosis, idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, systemic vasculitis with lungs involvement, sarcoidosis. The authors suggest that further accumulation of materials, further investigations of lung tissue state, epidemiologic studies will help to widen the list of occupational pulmonary diseases.

A biopsy of lung tissues was a conventional diagnostic method for detection of disseminated processes in the lung, which weren't diagnosed on preoperative stage. It was used during surgical anti-relapse treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). A retrospective analysis of the results of lung parenchyma biopsy was made in 143 patients, who have been operated for SP. Basic entry criteria of the research were: the age younger than 40 years old, a presence of one episode of spontaneous pneumothorax, an absence of complaints for respiratory organs before the development of the first episode of spontaneous pneumothorax. The biopsy with following pathomorphological investigation allowed a formulation of exact variant of disseminated processes, which gave the reason for the development of spontaneous pneumothorax in 9 (6%) patients out of 143. The presence of disseminated processes in the lung was detected with multispiral CT in all these patients on preoperative stage. The study of biopsy material found out the presence of emphysema of different degree of manifestation or fibrosis sites in the rest of the patients. An analysis of presented materials allowed the conclusion, that a performance of biopsy was indicated in the case of suspicion for lung disseminated processes in patients with SP. The biopsy with the following histological study didn't explain the reason of the development of emphysematous and fibrous changes in lung parenchyma in all other cases. At the same time, it didn't give the option for pathogenetic treatment and it wasn't possible to predict the following pathogenesis.

To reveal major principles in system of occupational lung diseases prevention among workers engaged into extraction and usage of chrysotile asbestos, the authors specified main criteria for diagnosis of asbestos-related pulmonary diseases and signs of exposure to chrysotile dust, with identification of risk groups for occupational diseases development. The authors formulated main principles of prevention and rehabilitation for workers with asbestos-related pulmonary diseases. Special attention was paid to harmonization of all medical and technical measures aimed at prevention and liquidation of occupational asbestos-related diseases.

Pulmonary disseminations are frequently encountered in the practical work of a multi-disciplinary hospital and require differential diagnostics by join efforts of specialists in different fields of medicine. The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency and clinical picture of these conditions. We analysed clinical records of 154 patients admitted to the department of pulmonology and intensive therapy. Most patients in need of intensive therapy (n=54) presented with disseminations of infectious origin, such as disseminated tuberculosis (32%), pulmonary problems associated with sepsis and infectious endocarditis (14%), HIV-associated disseminations (23%). Canceromatosis and idiopathic interstitial pneumonia occurred in 18 and 13% of the cases respectively. Patients in the department of pulmonology had pulmonary dissemination syndrome of unclear origin or no overt clinical symptoms (n=100). The leading cause of their disease was sarcoidosis (60%) and idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (20%). 27 patients had this syndrome associated with HIV/AIDS. Clinical examples and difficulties of early diagnostics of pulmonary dissemination syndrome are discussed with reference to underlying diseases (sepsis, infectious endocarditis, HIV/AIDS, Goodpasture's syndrome). Special attention is given to the management of this condition based at a multidisciplinary hospital.

It is established that after the termination of deep saturation dives reorganization of respiratory system at navy aquanauts proceeds. This remodeling is specific, atypical for natural age dynamics.

The article gives a brief review of some rare diseases of the lungs. According to international registers, rare diseases are those which occur in one individual per 2000 population. Brief characteristics, description of pathological anatomy of tumor and other lesions of the lungs are outlined.

This paper presents a mathematical algorithm based on constructing optimal standard descriptors to reduce the major causes of medical errors in groups of patients with chest diseases. It was shown that the mathematical algorithm based on the results of correlation analysis mand calculation of the prognostic sum of descriptors for the study (medical errors) and control (no medical errors) groups allows a new patient to be referred to either group. A computer program based on the mathematical algorithm enables it to be applied to determining group affiliation of the patients. In the process of further research the volume of descriptors in the standard can be increased to improve the accuracy of decision-making by a physician.

The paper concerns CT-semiotics of cavitary processes in the lungs. Their major forms are discussed with reference to underlying pathological changes. The most common manifestations of the diseases associated with the cavitary processes are described. CT is a highly informative method for the visualization of pulmonary cavitation and the surrounding chest structures; this method improves diagnostics of pulmonary pathology.

Thoracoscopic and traditional methods of treatment of the inborn and acquired lung diseases in children were comparatively analyzed. The main group, operated on thoracoscopically, consisted of 30 patients. The control group, operated on thoracotomically, consisted of the same number of children. Both groups were comparable to the age, gender, diagnostic algorithm, risk and preoperative prepare. Traumaticity of the operation and postoperative period were assessed. Thoracoscopic method proved to have indisputable advantages.

The method of combined videothoracoscopic atypical pulmonary resection, permitting to apply endostaplers and standard staplers in one intervention procedure, was elaborated. The method was applied in 47 patients in various pulmonary diseases without severe complications, all the patients are alive. Economic expedience of the method application, permitting to reduce usage of endostaplers, was shown.

Pulmonary lesions are the commonest and prognostically unfavourable visceral pathology in Wegener's granulomatosis. The author discusses clinically and reongenologically detectable lesions associated with this systemic vasculitis with special reference to its most severe forms (alveolar bleeding and infectious complications frequently caused by active immunosuppressive therapy). Diagnostic (including early) and modem therapeutic modalities of Wegener's granulomatosis are considered.

Assessing state of various hemostasis levels in patients having pulmonary diseases caused by dust, in accordance with respiratory failure severity, enables to diagnose early changes confirming hypoxia. The most reliable parameters are changes in vascular and platelet hemostasis and in fibrinolysis system.

The authors present the data available in the literature on and the results of their studies of the clinical manifestations and morphological characteristics of intraoperative specimens from neonates with congenital adenomatoid malformations of the lung. Possible causes of their development and criteria for differential morphological diagnosis of their different types are indicated.

Lung monitoring and visualization in intensive care unit (ICU) patients is a difficult task. Chest X-ray and auscultation are the most commonly used methods today. The new technique vibration response imaging (VRI) based on the vibration that is generated by airflow in the lung and that is its surrogate manifestation allows visualization of lung function. This method provides clinicians with an easy-to-use, non-radiation, non-invasive acoustic-based imaging technique of visual and quantitative evaluation of the lung. VRI objective dynamic image is a clinical addition to the existing static visual modalities used in the ICU.

The paper reviews the literature on bronchopulmonary lesion, one of the least studied systemic manifestations associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Knowledge of the entire diversity of extraintestinal manifestations of IBD, including respiratory diseases, allows clinicians to optimize their diagnosis and treatment as the asymptomatic course of the latter may lead to the development of severe respiratory complications. The detection of bronchopulmonary pathology in its early period or during current therapy contributes to the objective assessment of the pattern of the disease, to the correction of treatment and improvement of disease prognosis.

Aim: To estimate the bone mineral density (BMD) in end-stage lung disease (ESLD) and to determine risk factors for reduced BMD and correlations between lung functional parameters and pretransplantation bone mass., Materials and Methods: Sixty-five case histories were retrospectively analyzed in patients with ESLD who were to undergo lung transplantation. BMD in the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) was estimated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. External respiratory function was investigated; gasometry and six-minute walk test (SMWT) were carried out., Results: Osteopenic syndrome was recorded in 89% of the patients. Normal LS and FN BMD was found only in 7(11%) patients. T-scores (in both L(II)-L(IV) and FN) were directly related to the body mass index. There was a direct correlation of BMD with forced expiratory volume in one second and an inverse correction with arterial blood pCO2. There was no significant relationship between the results of SMWT and BMD in both L(II)-L(IV)., Conclusion: Osteoporosis is a common severe systemic manifestation in patients with ESLD.

Classification, differential diagnosis and treatment of diffuse interstitial pulmonary diseases are considered. Data on their X-ray (computed tomographic) and morphological manifestations are presented along with analysis of efficiency of pathogenetic (anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic) therapy.

The experience of diagnosis of disseminated pulmonary processes (DPP) of obscure etiology using videothoracoscopy (VTS) and video-assisted operations is presented. The methods of VTS operations using endostaplers Endopath and UO-40 apparatuses are depicted; a comparative characteristic of various kinds of VTS is adduced. Application of endostaplers Endopath had permitted to shorten th patients stationary treatment duration and to omit postoperative pain syndrome. Low invasiveness and high efficacy of VTS while doing the DPP etiology verification and for the patients postoperative rehabilitation shortening were noted

Experience of diagnostics and surgical treatment of of 100 patients with small-sized lung lesions was analyzed. Thus, authors pose, that patients with lung focal lesion less than 10mm in diameter, should have a lung resection, performed from minithoracotomy. Videthotacoscopic lung biopsy is appropriate by multiple focal lesions. Patients with solitary peripheral lung lesion more than 1sm in diameter, should get a lung resection, performed from minithoracotomy with videoassistance. Patients with solitary lesion less than 5 mm in diameter requier radiological dynamic follow-up (CT-scan each 6 months).

The aim of the work was to assess the value of biopsy techniques for fibrobronchoscopy under local anesthesia in patients with pulmonary pathology at the prehospital level. It included 706 subjects with lobular, segmental or diffuse lesions in the lungs of specific (tuberculosis), non-specific (pneumonia, exogenous alveolitis), and other origin. All known methods of endobronchial biopsy were employed (bronchoalveolar lavage or liquid lung biopsy, tissue biopsy, transbronchial biopsy, brush biopsy, puncture and aspiration biopsy) with subsequent cytomorphological and bacteriological studies of bioptates. Diagnostic efficiency of direct biopsy was estimated at 97%, transbronchial biopsy at 5-90% depending on nosological form of lung disease, brush and puncture biopsy 20-50 and 6% respectively. Reversible complications occurred in 1.4% and were resolved by therapeutic methods. Cost effectiveness of prehospital instrumental examination of patients with pulmonary pathology is 10 times the intrahospital one.

The article covers contemporary clinical morphology methods and evaluation of their value for occupational medicine, in particular for occupational respiratory diseases management.

Findings are that chronic bronchitis (14.1-18.5% of workers) is leading among bronchopulmonary diseases in workers engaged into electrolysis and auxiliary workshops of aluminium production. Chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) and bronchial asthma (BA) occur in 1.6-2.4% of the workers requiring employment. Among other variants of BA, potroom asthma--occupational form of the disease--should be emphasized. Risk of chronic bronchitis and COLD depends on length of exposure to the occupational hazards, and intensity of smoking habit.

Arterial pressure (AP) measured on brachial artery now cannot be considered as an unique marker of vascular tonus. According to literature data, more informative and prognostically valued parameters are central AP (CAP) and indices of arterial rigidity, which closer bound with hypertrophy of vascular wall, intensity of vascular atherosclerotic lesion and occurrence of cardiovascular complications, than peripheral AP and some other classic risk factors. Nevertheless, CAP measuring cannot be considered as alternative to classic method of AP measuring on brachial artery; it only supplements our view of concrete pathological process. Non-invasive CAP measuring at diseases of respiratory organs can be usable for more precise assessment of cardiovascular risk at chronic and acute forms of diseases of pulmonary organs (DPO). The highest risk of CAP increase and cardiovascular complications take place in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), aggravation of severe bronchial asthma and in hypertensive patients with pneumonia or aggravation of chronic DPO. Results of CAP measuring can be used as additional diagnostic criteria of stratification of DPO and their complications risk. Early diagnostics of CAP disturbances (aortal hyper- o hypotension) make possible to correct therapy and prevent unfavorable consequences of hemodynamic disturbances. Dynamic control of CAP is reasonable to use for correction of therapeutic programs in departments of intensive care.

The article covers contemporary data on structure of occupational pulmonary diseases, vital and disputable clinical and diagnostic topics on major entities: pneumoconiosis, occupational bronchitis and occupational bronchial asthma. The most prospective research trends are outlined.

Among sexually transmitted diseases, the incidence of primary and secondary syphilis has substantially increased in Russian Federation within the recent years. Modern clinicians, acquainted only with conventional dermatovenerologic symptoms of the disease, are less aware of rare manifestations of syphilis as a generalized infection. A rare case of syphilis with infiltrative pulmonary lesion is discussed in the article; the attention of practitioners is drawn to "unusual" manifestations of syphilis.

The thoracoscopy was used at 150 patients with penetrating wounds of thorax. Severity of injury according to ISS scale was 9.02+/-1.1 scores, RTS criteria - 7.84+/-0.0 scores, and TRISS - 99.8+/-0.1%. Lung injuries were diagnosed at 71 (47.3%) patients. Features of various wounds of lung and methods of closure have been analyzed. Bleeding, air intake and intrapulmonary hematoma were the indications for hermetic closure of wound canal. Coagulation of lung wound was performed at 24 (33.8%) patients, closure with endosurgical techniques - 30 (42.2%); the wounds have not been closured at 8 (11.3%) patients. Conversion to thoracotomy was necessary at 5 (7%) patients with deep wounds of lung. The thoracoscopic surgical procedure has been completely performed at 58 (81.7%) patients. The better postoperative results were achieved after endosurgical closure of lung wounds. Computed tomography is perspective method of preoperative diagnosis of lung injury severity.

Among 304 patients hospitalised with thorax closed injury 205 patients had lung contusion. The use of a complex diagnostics allowed to discharge 176 patients without any complications. The development of complections was observed in 128 patients, which occurred after the patients had had their injuries. Application of endoscopic sanation and treatment allowed to discharge patients in early terms.

The review covers the problems of terminology, pathogenesis, morphology, clinical manifestations, and diagnostics of pulmonary pathology in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The main variants of pulmonary and pleural changes in RA are presented. The article covers possibilities provided by modern technologies, which make it possible to widen and objective diagnostic methods, including those directed towards revealing specific changes in respiratory organs in RA patients. The authors give preference to non-invasive radiodiagnostic methods, among which the leading role is played by high-resolution computed tomography due to its high information value in the imaging of pulmonary pathology, compared with conventional chest radiograms. The article also covers the issue of the complex application of non-invasive methods, such as functional (including methods of diffusing lung capacity evaluation), radiological and radionuclid ones, and invasive methods including fibrobronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage, and lung biopsy, in diagnostics of interstitial pulmonary lesion, especially its subclinical variants.

The paper sums up the work of the Diagnosis Department of the Central Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences in the past 30 years. It also presents the results of examinations, treatment, and follow-ups of 5000 patients with sarcoidosis, exogenous allergic alveolitis, pulmonary tuberculosis of questionable activity, pneumonia, benign and malignant tumors, respiratory malformations, systemic vasculitis, pulmonary eosinophilia, lymphogranulomatosis, and rare lung diseases.

Aim: To evaluate functional activity of the kidneys in patients with nonspecific pulmonary diseases (NSPD)., Material and Methods: Routine renal function tests, registration of iron-induced urine chemiluminescence (CL), estimation of middle-molecular oligopeptides in blood serum and urine were made in 22 patients with pneumonia, 18 patients with chronic non-obstructive bronchitis and 16 ones with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease., Results: Urine CL was subnormal in all the patients. This CL intensity correlated with functional renal characteristics, negatively correlated with endotoxicosis severity. In a favourable course of the disease, CL intensity increased, renal function and content of middle-molecular oligopeptides in biological substrates normalized. In patients with lingering and chronic inflammation CL remained low, renal dysfunction and endotoxicosis persisted., Conclusion: Registration of iron-induced urine CL can be used for control over NSPD patients condition and efficacy of their treatment.

Aim: To characterize pulmonary lesion in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on the basis of clinical device and biochemical examination regarding features of the disease onset and development., Material and Methods: The study included 60 SLE patients. Mean age 41.1 +/- 1.32 years. Mean SLE duration 12.42 +/- 1.06 years. Activity according to the SLEDAI and ECLAM indices--16.23 +/- 0.93 and 3.09 +/- 0.18 scores, respectively. The comparison groups: 30 patients with bronchial asthma (BA), 15--with chronic bronchitis (CB), 15--with chronic obstructive bronchitis (COB), 30 healthy donors. The following parameters were studied: spirometric, bodyplethismographic evidence, diffuse ability of the lungs (DAL), plasm concentrations of adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonine, histamine, hemodynamics, anxiety, depression, social adaptation (quality of life) and vegetative dysfunctions. Statistics were obtained with BIOSTATISTIKA program., Results: DAL depends on duration of SLE, severity of lung hypertension (LH), severity of anemia. LH in SLE deteriorated vegetative disorders and social adaptation. Lowering of plasm dopamine concentration was accompanied with LH, formation of vegetative dysfunction and worse social adaptation., Conclusion: Affection of the lungs in SLE patients runs without evident clinical symptoms. Initial signs of lung affection manifest with low DAL, LH, moderate restrictive, obstructive and mixed disorders of external respiration function.