Effect of salicylates on ventilatory response to inhaled carbon dioxide in normal subjects

The basic purpose of this investigation was to determine whether salicylates increase the sensitivity of the respiratory center to inhaled CO2. The problem was approached by noting the effect of salicylates upon ventilation and arterial blood Co2 tension and pH during inhalation of compressed air and 3% and 5% Co2 in air. These studies were performed in 30 subjects, 15 of whom ingested 2.1 gm salicylate; the other 15 ingested 3.6 gm. The results demonstrate that the ventilatory response to CO2 was increased only by the larger dose of salicylate. Variations in dead-space volume secondary to increments in tidal volume were observed. Dead-space volume increased in approximately linear fashion with increase in tidal volume. Submitted on October 28, 1959