THE CARBON MONOXIDE DIFFUSING CAPACITY OF THE LUNG IN NORMAL SUBJECTS

Abstract
Summary: The mean diffusing capacity of the lung by the steady state carbon monoxide method was 22.2 millilitres per minute in 29 normal subjects. The diffusing capacity rose with exercise to about double the resting figure at maximum exertion.The possible errors of the method have been examined, and it is concluded that our own figures are probably some 5% to 15% too low owing to neglect of carboxyhaemoglobin in the blood and to use of the Bohr equation. When these errors are allowed for, there is no significant difference between our own results in the steady state and those of Scandinavian and American workers using single‐breath techniques.

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