Abstrakt

Measurement of pulmonary transfer factor for carbon monoxide (TLCO or DCO) is the lung function parameter for determinating oxygen diffusing capacity through the alveolo-capillary membrane. Besides ventilation, diffusion is the most important factor in undisturbed blood oxygenation. An impairment of diffusion is of great clinical relevance. Measurement of CO transfer is performed by the single-breath method, which is combined with the helium wash-in method for the determination of static lung volumes. This allows a correlation of transfer factor with the lung volume, respectively, the alveolar volume in order to eliminate an influence of ventilation disturbances. TLCO is of great clinical relevance in preoperative diagnostics before lung resection. Concerning the prediction of increased postoperative morbidity, the determination of TLCO is as important as bodyplethysmography. In conservative pulmonary medicine, TLCO is of great use in the diagnostic procedures of interstitial lung diseases and emphysema, although the precise role of TLCO in the therapeutic management of these diseases is still in discussion.

Autoreninformation

Autoren

• F. Artmann¹
• C. Hader¹
• K.H. Rühle²
• K. Rasche³

Abteilungen

• ¹ Aeroprax – Überörtliche Gemeinschaftspraxis für Pneumologie und Schlafmedizin, Wuppertal,
• ² HELIOS-Klinik, Ambrock-Klinik für Pneumologie, Allergologie und Schlafmedizin, Hagen,
• ³ Kliniken St. Antonius-Lungenzentrum, Wuppertal

Adresse

Dr. med. F. Artmann, aeroprax
Überörtliche Gemeinschaftspraxis für Pneumologie und Schlafmedizin
Willy-Brandt-Platz 9
D-42105 Wuppertal
Email: www.aeroprax.de

Citation