[Ventilation, diffusion and pulmonary perfusion studied by 133 Xe].

The pulmonary function has been studied by several methods using radioactive gases since 1955. Knipping and col. reported the first study with 133Xe in the evaluation of the gas distribution in pulmonary ventilation. In this study, we report the pulmonary function in 40 normal persons, evaluated by injection in a peripherical vein of this radioactive substance. The elementary respiratory functions: ventilation, diffusion and perfusion were calculated by distribution curves of 133Xe and we obtained the V/P index is very important for the diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of the pulmonary function. Comparative studies with several examples of human pulmonary disease are in progress in our laboratory.