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View Full Version : Differences between Finnish and European reference values for pulmonary diffusing capacity



Beorn
06-23-2010, 10:34 PM
Päivi Piirilä 1, Tommi Seikkula 1, Petteri Välimäki 2
1 Laboratory of Clinical Physiology, Meilahti Hospital, HUSLAB, Helsinki, Finland
2 Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Meilahti Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
paivi.piirila@hus.fi


Received 11 July 2007; Accepted 9 November 2007


Päivi Piirilä 1, Tommi Seikkula 1, Petteri Välimäki 2
1 Laboratory of Clinical Physiology, Meilahti Hospital, HUSLAB, Helsinki, Finland
2 Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Meilahti Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
paivi.piirila@hus.fi
Received 11 July 2007; Accepted 9 November 2007

ABSTRACT

Objectives. To compare European (ECSC) and Finnish reference values for single-breath diffusing
capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO).

Study design. Finnish reference values for DLCO, specific diffusing capacity (DLCO/VA) and total

lung capacity (TLC) were compared with ECSC reference values calculated for different age, height and weight groups. In addition, 10 healthy subjects performed the test with both the Finnish method (inhaled volume 90% of vital capacity, VC) and the ECSC method (inhaled volume 100% of VC).

Methods. Percentual differences between the ECSC and Finnish reference values for DLCO, TLC and DLCO/VA were calculated. The results of measurements of DLCO and TLC by using inhaled volume of 100% of VC and 90% of VC in 10 healthy subjects were compared.

Results. The Finnish DLCO reference value for men was 3–12% and for women 8–20% smaller than the ECSC reference value. TLC calculated according to Finnish equations was 2–14% greater than that based on ECSC equations. The ECSC reference value for DLCO/VA was about 20% greater than the Finnish reference value in men and 30% greater than that in women. The 10 healthy subjects had significantly higher DLCO when measured according to the ECSC method as compared with the Finnish one (p<0.004).


Conclusions. The Finnish reference values for DLCO were about 10% smaller, but TLC 10% and DLCO/VA 20-30% greater than ECSC reference values in subjects of the same age, height, weight and gender. The difference in DLCO is explained by the different inhaled lung volumes used in the two methods, the difference in lung volumes probably arising from ethnic differences in thoracic cavity.


(Int J Circumpolar Health 2007; 66(5): 449-457)



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