Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide

DLCO or TLCO (diffusing capacity or transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide (CO),[1]) is the extent to which oxygen passes from the air sacs of the lungs into the blood. Commonly, it refers to the test used to determine this parameter. It was introduced in 1909.[2]

Mechanism

This test involves measuring the partial pressure difference between inspired and expired carbon monoxide. It relies on the strong affinity and large absorption capacity of red blood cells for carbon monoxide and thus demonstrates gas uptake by the capillaries that are less dependent on cardiac output.[3] The measurement of DLCO is affected by atmospheric pressure and/or altitude and correction factors can be calculated using the method recommended by the American Thoracic Society.[4] Expected DLCO is also affected by the amount of hemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin, age and sex. The correction for hemoglobin is based on the method of Cotes[5][6] as recommended by the American Thoracic Society.

DLCO vs TLCO

Generally DLCO is measured in "ml/min/kPa" and TLCO is measured in "ml/min/mmHg".

Factors affecting DLCO

Decrease

DLCO is decreased in any condition which affects the effective alveolar surface area:

  1. Hindrance in the alveolar wall. e.g. fibrosis, alveolitis, vasculitis
  2. Decrease of total lung area, e.g. Restrictive lung disease or lung resection (partial or total).
  3. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Emphysema) due to decreased surface area in the alveoli, as well as damage to the capillary bed[7]
  4. Pulmonary embolism
  5. Cardiac insufficiency
  6. Pulmonary hypertension
  7. Bleomycin (upon administration of more than 200 units)
  8. Chronic heart failure[8]
  9. Anemia-due to decrease in blood volume
  10. Amiodarone high cumulative dose; more than 400 milligrams per day
  11. After chemotherapy and radiotherapy

However, many modern devices compensate for the hemoglobin value of the patient (taken by blood test), and excludes it as a factor in the DLCO interpretation.

Increase

Factors that can increase the DLCO include polycythaemia, asthma (can also have normal DLCO) and increased pulmonary blood volume as occurs in exercise. Other factors are left to right intracardiac shunting, mild left heart failure (increased blood volume) and alveolar hemorrhage (increased blood available for which CO does not have to cross a barrier to enter). [9]

Significance of results

A DLCO of less than 60% predicted portends a poor prognosis for lung cancer resection. FEV1 is of lesser prognostic value for lung resection survival.[10]

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See also

References
  1. Macintyre N, Crapo RO, Viegi G, et al. (October 2005). "Standardisation of the single-breath determination of carbon monoxide uptake in the lung". Eur. Respir. J. 26 (4): 720–35. doi:10.1183/09031936.05.00034905. PMID 16204605.
  2. Hughes J, Bates D (2003). "Historical review: the carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) and its membrane (DM) and red cell (Theta.Vc) components". Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 138 (2–3): 115–42. doi:10.1016/j.resp.2003.08.004. PMID 14609505.
  3. Sue, DY; Oren, A; Hansen, JE; Wasserman, K (1987). "Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide as a predictor of gas exchange during exercise". N. Engl. J. Med. 316 (21): 1301–1306. doi:10.1056/nejm198705213162103. PMID 3574401.
  4. American Thoracic society, Single Breath Carbon Monoxide Diffusing Capacity (transfer factor) Recommendations for a Standard Technique- 1995 Update, Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 152 pp 2185-2198 (1995).
  5. J.E. Cotes 1993, Lung Function, 5th Edition., Blackwell Scientific Publications, London
  6. J.E. Cotes, J.M. Dabbs, P.C. Elwood, A.M. Hall, A. McDonald, and M.J. Saunders. Iron-deficiency anaemia: its effects on transfer factor for the lung (diffusing capacity) and ventilation and cardiac frequency during submaximal exercise. Clin. Sci. 42:325-33 (1972).
  7. Bailey, Kristina L. (1 July 2012). "The Importance of the Assessment of Pulmonary Function in COPD". The Medical Clinics of North America. 96 (4): 745–752. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2012.04.011. ISSN 0025-7125. PMC 3998207. PMID 22793942.
  8. Puri, Sundeep (1 Jun 1995). "Reduced Alveolar–Capillary Membrane Diffusing Capacity in Chronic Heart Failure". Circulation. 91 (11): 2769–2774. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.91.11.2769.
  9. Ruppel, G. L. (2009). Manual of Pulmonary Function Testing. ISBN 978-0-323-05212-2
  10. Diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) is an independent prognostic factor for long-term survival after curative lung resection for cancer (p n/a) Michael J. Liptay, Sanjib Basu, Michael C. Hoaglin, Neil Freedman, L. Penfield Faber, William H. Warren, Zane T. Hammoud, Anthony W. Kim. Journal of Surgical Oncology. Published Online: Oct 1 2009 8:20AM doi:10.1002/jso.21407
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