[Carbon monoxide intake during exercise in healthy subjects and patients (author's transl)]

During exercise, carbon monoxide intake (V'CO) is closely related to the pulmonary capacity of CO transfer in stable condition (TCO) and "could be used, according to BATES, as a normality test of the lungs" (3). V'CO standardized for FICO = 0.001 (3) (V'COs), expressed by unit of simultaneous output of V'CO2 or V'O2 should be, during exercise: 1) independent of morphometric or ventilatory factors, 2) linked linearly and negatively with log V'O2. In 12 non-smokers healthy patients aged 29 +/- 8 years, this criterium valued on semi-open circuit of low resistance at the end of a rectangular exercise is in negative and very significant correlation with log V'O2. Measurements done on the 3rd, 6th and 10th minute of the exercise did not significantly differ amongst themselves. The validity of the relationship between V'COs/V'O2 and log V'O2 is verified in aged patients or women during triangular exercise. Twenty seven patients are classified in 2 groups, whether they are affected (I) or not (II) of widespread micronodular dissemination of lungs. The measurements of TCO, V'COs/V'O2, V'COs/V'CO2 are done simultaneouly with the sampling for gasometry at rest, then at the 10th minute of an exercise with constant power. TCO modifications produced by exercise do not, on the whole, bring any new element of information while those observed on average for PaO2, V'COs/V'O2, V'CO2 very significantly differentiated the two groups. They are compatible with the hypothesis of the majority of diffusion disorders in I, of distribution in II. The interpretation of the values in relation with age is being discussed.