Effect of Lung Volume on Steady State Pulmonary Membrane Diffusing Capacity and Pulmonary Capillary Blood Volume1,2

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Abstract
Although resting steady state measurements of pulmonary diffusing capacity of the lung are frequently used in the evaluation of patients, results from such tests are often quite variable because the steady state method is highly dependent upon alveolar ventilation; an increase in tidal volume or respiratory frequency produces an increase in the diffusing capacity. Although these changes have been attributed to an increase in alveolar volume, data obtained in this and other studies indicate that a change in end-expiratory lung volume does not affect steady state diffusing capacity. In addition, it was observed that the membrane diffusing capacity and pulmonary capillary blood volume remained unchanged. Further, it was shown that steady state diffusing capacity increases as a function of hyperventilation because of an artifactual increase in membrane diffusing capacity. Steady state membrane diffusing capacity is highly dependent not only on the alveolar ventilation but also on the method used to estimate m...

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