Nitric oxide diffusing capacity versus spirometry in the early diagnosis of emphysema in smokers
- van der Lee, I.
- Gietema, H.A.
- Zanen, P.
- van Klaveren, R.J.
- Prokop, M.
- Lammers, J.-W.J.
- van den Bosch, J.M.M.
DOIAbstract
SummaryThe diffusion capacity for nitric oxide (DLNO) is independent of pulmonary capillary blood volume and equals the membrane diffusing capacity. Therefore the DLNO could be more sensitive in detecting alveolar destruction than the DLCO.We measured flow-volumes curves, DLNO, DLCO, the transfer coefficients KNO (DLNO/VA) and KCO (DLCO/VA) and performed computed tomography (CT) scans in 263 randomly selected heavy smokers. Subjects with areas ≥1% of the total lung volume showing an attenuation <−950 Hounsfield Units were considered to have emphysema.In 36 subjects emphysema was diagnosed with CT, a low KNO was present in 94 subjects, and in 95 subjects a FEV1/FVC ratio <70% was seen. The area under the ROC curve for detection CT-based emph...
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