Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Associations between reduced diffusing capacity and airflow obstruction in community-based subjects.

Melanie C Matheson1, Joan Raven, David P Johns

  • 1Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Vic., Australia. mcmat@unimelb.edu.au

Respiratory Medicine
|May 8, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Reduced diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLco) combined with airflow obstruction identifies individuals with more symptoms and worse lung function. Smoking and bronchial hyperreactivity are key risk factors.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Reply: An index of maximal expiratory flow-volume curve with different features related to central and peripheral concavity.

ERJ open research·2026
Same author

Parental smoke exposure before age 15 years and offspring asthma trajectories from ages 7 to 53 years.

ERJ open research·2026
Same author

Concavity of the maximal expiratory flow-volume curve, and incidence of COPD and respiratory symptoms: a population-based cohort study.

ERJ open research·2026
Same author

Paradigm shifts in asthma: what is old is new again.

The Lancet. Respiratory medicine·2025
Same author

The role of epigenetic regulation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology·2025
Same author

Targeting pathogen adhesion molecules to improve COPD outcomes.

The Lancet. Respiratory medicine·2025

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Respiratory Physiology

Background:

  • Abnormal diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLco) may indicate distinct patient characteristics.
  • Understanding DLco's role alongside airflow obstruction is crucial for respiratory health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if abnormal DLco identifies subjects with unique characteristics compared to normal lung function or isolated airflow obstruction.
  • To investigate the clinical significance of combined DLco reduction and airflow obstruction.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of a random sample of adults aged 45-70 years.
  • Utilized respiratory questionnaires, spirometry, methacholine challenge, and single breath DLco measurements.
  • Categorized subjects into three groups: airflow obstruction only, reduced DLco only, or both.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Combined airflow obstruction and reduced DLco correlated with increased symptoms, medication use, and laboratory tests.
  • Current smoking showed a stronger association with combined DLco and airflow obstruction.
  • Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) was a risk factor, while atopy showed a reduced risk.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced DLco plus airflow obstruction identifies a group with significantly more symptoms and worse lung function.
  • Current smoking, early serious respiratory infection, and BHR are strongly associated with combined reduced DLco and airflow obstruction.