DIFFERENCES IN LUNG FUNCTION IN EARLY SYMPTOMATIC HIV-1 SEROPOSITIVE MEN AT REST AND DURING MAXIMAL EXERCISE

Abstract

1033 Pulmonary complications occur in over 40% of persons infected with HIV-1 disease. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were any differences in lung function at rest and during maximal graded exercise between HIV-1 seropositive and seronegative men at rest and during a maximal graded exercise test. HIV-1 seropositive and seronegative, trained and untrained men between the ages of 18 and 45 (n=40) performed three trials each for forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), vital capacity (VC), and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) to examine lung function at rest. Immediately following the resting pulmonary assessment, a graded exercise test was perfomred to determine dynamic pulmonary variables. A MANCOVA, covarying for age, height, and fitness level showed significant differences in FVC (F(4,36)=5.55), FEV1 (F(4,36)=7.86), PEF (F(4,36)=6.44), MVV (F(4,36)=5.32), and VC (F(4,36)=4.14) between the HIV-1 seropositive and seronegative men at rest (p<0.05). During exercise, a MANCOVA, covarying for age and fitness level showed significant differences in dyspnea index (F(3,37)=4.48), O2 pulse (F(3,37)=7.77), dead space to tidal volume (F(3,37)=6.24), and ventilation (F(3,37)=9.86) between the two groups (p<0.01). This data suggests that HIV-1 infection compromises pulmonary function even in the early stages of HIV-1 disease, before the advent of overt pulmonary disease.