PMID: 1199078Oct 1, 1975Paper

Diffusing capacity, specific diffusing capacity and interpretation of diffusion defects

The Western Journal of Medicine
L N AyersK Wasserman

Abstract

Six pathophysiologic mechanisms of a reduced single breath CO diffusing capacity are discussed and the usefulness of relating carbon monoxide (CO) uptake to the functioning alveolar volume (DL/VA, specific diffusing capacity) is illustrated for several pulmonary diseases. In patients with emphysema and pulmonary emboli (pulmonary vascular occlusive disease), reduced CO uptake is associated with significantly reduced DL/VA and is compatible with reduction of pulmonary capillary bed. In patients with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, improvement in CO uptake and DL/VA follows lung lavage and suggests that lung units partially filled with proteinaceous material are responsible for hypoxemia, reduced CO uptake and reduced DL/VA. In most cases of radiation fibrosis, sarcoidosis and miscellaneous interstitial fibrosis, reduced CO uptake is associated with a normal DL/VA and suggests that loss of alveolar units, both capillaries and alveoli, has occurred. New regression equations for DL and DL/VA are established for children and adults. DL/VA is linearly related to height and independent of age and sex, while different predictive equations must be used for DL for the 5 through 17 and 18 through 76 age groups. The new regression equation...Continue Reading

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