Changes in blood gas tensions and functional residual capacity in chronic asthmatics treated with disodium cromoglycate

Twenty chronic asthmatic subjects were treated with disodium cromoglycate in open trial. Although in the group as a whole spirometric findings improved, some patients showed a significant increase in arterial oxygen tension or a significant fall in functional residual capacity without any appreciable changes in spirometry. These changes may partly explain the clinical efficacy of this drug.