Abstract
The diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) is a commonly performed and clinically useful pulmonary function test that provides a quantitative measure of gas transfer in the lungs. It is valuable for evaluating and managing patients with a wide variety of pulmonary disorders, especially patients with interstitial lung disease, pulmonary vascular disease, and obstructive lung disease. Important aspects of the DLCO test are discussed including the physiologic principles governing diffusion, testing technique and equipment, technical and physiologic factors influencing DLCO variability, DLCO test interpretation, and the clinical utility of DLCO measurement.
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Abbreviations
- DLCO :
-
diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide
- CO:
-
carbon monoxide
- COPD:
-
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- ATS:
-
American Thoracic Society
- ERS:
-
European Respiratory Society
- Hb:
-
hemoglobin
- \(\mathop V\limits^ \bullet \)gas:
-
gas transfer per unit time
- DM :
-
membrane component of diffusion
- θ :
-
rate at which carbon monoxide binds with hemoglobin
- VA:
-
alveolar volume
- VC :
-
pulmonary capillary blood volume
- STPD:
-
standard temperature, pressure, dry conditions
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Hegewald, M.J. Diffusing Capacity. Clinic Rev Allerg Immunol 37, 159–166 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-009-8125-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-009-8125-2