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  • Title: [Interpreting carbon monoxide transfer coefficient: significance and difficulties].
    Author: Guillot S, Beillot J, Meunier C, Dassonville J.
    Journal: Rev Mal Respir; 2005 Nov; 22(5 Pt 1):759-66. PubMed ID: 16272978.
    Abstract:
    INTRODUCTION: Interpreting measurements of carbon monoxide can be problematic. STATE OF THE ART: The transfer factor (TLCO) is usually calculated by multiplying the decrease in alveolar CO concentration between the beginning and the end of a 10 second breath hold (KCO) by the alveolar volume (VA). Thus a reduced TLCO may occur due to either a low KCO, a reduced VA, or a combination of both. PERSPECTIVES: A careful examination of KCO and VA will usually suggest a specific explanation for a reduction in TLCO. In restrictive lung diseases from extrapulmonary origin, TLCO is low but TLCO/VA [[/INF 120% of the reference values. In interstitial lung disease, the value of TLCO/VA depends on whether the loss of lung units is diffuse or not, and probably also on the status of the microcirculation. In airflow obstruction, a low VA is caused by uneven distribution of inspired He/CO mixture within the breath-hold time. CONCLUSIONS: The transfer factor for carbon monoxide is best interpreted in terms of its components, alveolar volume and carbon monoxide transfer coefficient.
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