Premium
Diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) pre‐ and post‐exercise in children in health and disease
Author(s) -
Fitzgerald Nicholas M.,
Kennedy Brendan,
Fitzgerald Dominic A.,
Selvadurai Hiran
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.22925
Subject(s) - dlco , medicine , spirometry , cardiology , diffusing capacity , physical therapy , lung , lung function , asthma
Summary Rationale A decrease in diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) after exercise has been reported in healthy adults. There is limited information for post‐exercise DLCO available in children either in health or in disease. Objectives To evaluate (1) reproducibility of DLCO measures in children, (2) differences in DLCO between elite athletic swimmers (AS), stable cystic fibrosis patients (CF), and healthy controls (Con) at rest; and (3) after a maximal treadmill exercise test. Methods Participants performed spirometry and DLCO at baseline, a maximal treadmill exercise test and repeated DLCO measures for 2 hr after cessation of exercise. Results The mean (SD) co‐efficient of variation between baseline DLCO tests was 2.49% (1.86%). In girls, the mean baseline DLCO (ml/min/mmHg) was 18.61 (4.15) in CF, 22.32 (4.79) in controls and 27.18 (5.33) in AS. In boys: 23.68 (5.31) in CF, 28.09 (9.95) in controls and 37.75 (9.46) in AS. Baseline DLCO was significantly higher in AS than in CF patients ( P < 0.01). In girls post‐exercise, the greatest mean decrease in DLCO from baseline was −7.50% to −12.83% and in boys −6.92% to −17.71%. The decline in DLCO was less important in the athletes than the other groups ( P < 0.05). Conclusions DLCO is highly repeatable in children. AS have an increased DLCO at rest compared to both children with CF and controls. There is a decline from baseline to post‐exercise DLCO and while there are disease‐specific differences, the general pattern of change in DLCO measures after exercise is similar in children to adults. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2014; 49:782–789. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.