Disease relevance of Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity

• The structural pulmonary diffusing capacity for O2 was greater in the mole rat (+44%), thus facilitating O2 uptake in hypoxia [1].
• The morphometric pulmonary diffusing capacity per unit body weight (DLO2/W) was 0.02 ml O2 per min per mm Hg per g [2].
• The aim of this study was to determine whether venous gas embolism after a single air dive, evaluated using precordial Doppler monitoring, was associated with alterations in spirometry, lung volumes, arterial blood gases, or pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) [3].
• We describe a child whose MCTD included arthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon, mucocutaneous ulcerations, sclerodermatous skin changes, restrictive lung disease, reduced carbon monoxide pulmonary diffusing capacity, abnormal esophogeal motility, and severe pulmonary hypertension [4].

High impact information on Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity

• The pulmonary diffusing capacity was reduced to 69% of the predicted value in the heparin group at two weeks and 72% at one year, whereas it was 85% of the predicted value in the thrombolytic group at two weeks and 93% at one year (P < 0.001) [5].
• Pulmonary diffusing capacity for CO and indices of CO2 exchange were similar in both groups [6].
• BACKGROUND: Impaired alveolar-capillary membrane conductance is the major cause for the reduction in pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in heart failure [7].
• The effects of ethanol ingestion on the accuracy of pulmonary diffusing capacity measurement [8].
• Improvement in the level of arterial blood gases and pulmonary diffusing capacity occurred after discontinuation of methotrexate therapy [9].

Biological context of Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity

• Normal reference values of the pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), diffusing capacity of the membrane (DMCO), and pulmonary capillary blood volume (VC) were derived by a rebreathing technique in 44 normal, healthy, nonsmoking individuals ranging from 17 to 68 yr of age [10].
• The total apparent transfer resistance to CO, obtained from previous measurements of pulmonary diffusing capacity for CO in the same species, is much higher than that predicted from the combination of RBC O2 kinetics and morphometric data on gas-blood barrier [11].
• There was great diversity between strains for all of the lung function parameters studied; for example, the total lung capacity as well as the pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide varied by 50% and the static lung compliance by a factor of almost two among the strains [12].
• Measurement of pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide and functional residual capacity during rebreathing in conscious thoroughbreds [13].
• To study the effects of exercise on pulmonary diffusing capacity, we measured the lungs' diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) during exhalation from 30 to 45% exhaled vital capacity in eight healthy subjects at rest and during exercise while both sitting and supine [14].

Associations of Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity with chemical compounds

• Hemoglobin concentration was 70 g/l. Assuming an inhomogeneous lung with an alveolar dead space compartment, pulmonary diffusing capacity for O2 (DLO2) was 0.53 +/- 0.10 ml.min-1.mmHg-1 (mean +/- SD) when perfusing with sheep red cells and 0.52 +/- 0.13 with human red cells [15].
• The effects of acute ethanol ingestion on pulmonary diffusing capacity [16].
• Based on these findings, we feel that when serum levels are within the therapeutic range, cyclosporin fails to alter the respiratory function or the pulmonary diffusing capacity of the lung [17].

Gene context of Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity

• To measure pulmonary diffusing capacity in our experiments, we had the added advantage of the use of the Gould Pulmonary Function Laboratory that automates the collection and recording of data and the calibration of equipment for each test [18].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity

• The pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) is reduced in chronic heart failure and remains decreased after heart transplantation [19].
• Relationship of carbon monoxide pulmonary diffusing capacity to postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in patients undergoing pneumonectomy [20].
• They can be categorised as respiratory volumes (e.g. vital capacity), gas flow within the respiratory system (e.g. forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)), pulmonary diffusing capacity (e.g. carbon monoxide diffusing capacity) and visualisation of the upper airway (e.g. bronchoscopy) [21].

References