Diffusion capacity and CT measures of emphysema and airway wall thickness - relation to arterial oxygen tension in COPD patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Decreased diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) is associated with emphysema. DLCO is also related to decreased arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), but there are limited data on associations between PaO2 and computed tomography (CT) derived measures of emphysema and airway wall thickness.

Objective

To examine whether CT measures of emphysema and airway wall thickness are associated with level of arterial oxygen tension beyond that provided by measurements of diffusion capacity and spirometry.

Methods

The study sample consisted of 271 smoking or ex-smoking COPD patients from the Bergen COPD Cohort Study examined in 2007-2008. Emphysema was assessed as percent of low-attenuation areas<-950 Hounsfield units (%LAA), and airway wall thickness as

SUBMITTER: Saure EW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4867045 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature