[The role of pulmonary surfactant in the atherogenesis process in patients with dust-induced respiratory organ diseases].

There have been established opposite reactions in the cardiovascular system during formation of dust-induced pathology of lungs: a common finding in patients with pneumoconiosis is alterations in the left heart, while in chronic dust bronchitis the same is true of the right heart. In the authors' opinion, different states of pulmonary surfactant in the above conditions account for this observation. Inhibition of synthesis of the pulmonary surfactant associated with the development of the blood and tissue phospholipid deficiency makes for the evolution of atherosclerosis in patients with pneumoconiosis while enhancement of the phospholipid production by the lungs accompanied by elevation of their blood content is an important factor inhibiting the processes of atherogenesis in patients with dust bronchitis.