Low diffusion capacity in pulmonary hypertension

The diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide ( DLCO ) is increasingly recognized as important diagnostic and prognostic marker in pulmonary hypertension. The review summarizes this diagnostic role and provides an overview of the clinical implications, potential underlying pathophysiology and impact of a decreased DLCO in different forms of pulmonary hypertension.

When in the diagnostic work-up of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) a strongly lowered DLCO is found one must be aware of other causes and the diagnosis idiopathic PAH should be reconsidered. Left heart disease, lung disease, (peripheral) chronic thrombo-embolic pulmonary hypertension, underlying connective tissue disease and pulmonary veno-occlusive disease belong to the differential diagnosis. If all of these subforms of pulmonary hypertension are excluded and the patient fits the clinical profile the nowadays so called "Lung phenotype" should be considered. In general, a severely decreased DLCO is associated with a worse prognosis in different sub forms of pulmonary hypertension.

Reduced DLCO in pulmonary hypertension has important implications for clinical practice and research by improving diagnostic accuracy, supporting patient phenotyping, and identifying high-risk populations. Integration of DLCO into routine pulmonary hypertension assessment, registries, and future studies may enhance disease classification and facilitate more individualized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.