[Non invasive exploration of pulmonary capillary blood volume]

The exploration of the deep lung remains very limited. Indeed, all the current examinations give only indirect information on this part of the lung. Thus, the new technique of double transfer of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO) allows a more precise study of the pulmonary gas exchange by analyzing separately the characteristics of the membrane, by measurement of the membrane diffusion (Dm), and of the pulmonary capillary, by measurement of pulmonary capillary blood volume (Vc). With this technique, a more objective and non invasive study of the physiological changes, as age and the exercise, and pathological factors like systemic, cardio-vascular or pulmonary diseases on alveolo capillary membrane is possible.