Transfer coefficients better reflect emphysematous changes than carbon monoxide diffusing capacity in obstructive lung diseases

Abstract

The overlap between asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has attracted the interest of pulmonary physicians; thus, measurement of carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLco) and/or transfer coefficients (Kco, DLco/V_A) may become valuable in clinical settings. How these parameters behave in chronic obstructive lung diseases is poorly understood. We predicted that Kco might more accurately reflect emphysematous changes in the lungs than DLco. We examined DLco and Kco in nonsmokers and smokers with asthma and investigated their relationships with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (%FEV₁) by group. We then selected nonsmokers (As-NS) and smokers with asthma (As-Sm) in both groups and those with COPD while controlling for the degree of airflow limitation across groups. Emphysema volumes [%lung attenuation volume (%LAV)] and percentage of cross-sectional area of small pulmonary vessels <5 mm² (%CSA_<5) were measured by computed tomography. In As-NS, %Kco was significantly higher when FEV₁% was reduced, but such a correlation was not seen in As-Sm. %Kco successfully differentiated among the three groups when airflow limitation levels were matched. However, %DLc, was significantly reduced only in patients with COPD. Both %LAV and %CSA_<5 were better correlated with %Kco than with %DLco. There was discordance between %DL_CO and %Kco in As-Sm, which was not seen in As-NS. Overall, %Kco better reflects emphysematous changes in obstructive lung diseases than %DLco. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Despite differing behaviors of %Kco and %DLco in several diseases, the characteristics of these parameters have not been fully examined in smokers with asthma. Here, we demonstrated that %Kco is a more sensitive parameter of pathophysiology, better reflecting emphysematous changes in chronic obstructive lung diseases overall, compared with %DLco. Thus, more precise interpretations of %DLco and %Kco may provide clues for understanding the pathophysiology of obstructive lung diseases.

Keywords: carbon monoxide diffusion capacity; emphysema; small vessels in the lungs; transfer coefficients.