O2 alveolar-arterial tension difference after 10 days recumbency in man.

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Abstract
This study was conducted on 7 healthy men whose ages varied from 21-25 years. Measurements of the O2 alveolar-arterial tension difference ((A-a)DO2) were made in the supine position before and after 10 days bed recumbency. The O2 and CO2 partial pressures were determined with the Clark and Severinghaus electrodes, respectively. The alveolar O2 partial pressure was calculated from the alveolar equation. The (A-a)-DO2 increased in all the cases. The average (A-a)DO2 before recumbency was 9 mm Hg. The average (A-a)DO2 after recumbency was 19 mm Hg. This increase in the (A-a)DO2 was due to a change in the PaO2 which varied from 103 mm Hg before recumbency to 94 mm Hg after recumbency. The mechanism by which the (A-a)DO2 increases with prolonged bed recumbency is discussed with regard to information obtained by other investigators from experiments conducted in animals or human subjects during anesthesia.