Open AccessIsolated diffusing capacity reduction is a common clinical presentation in deployed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with deployment‐related environmental exposures
Author(s) -
Falvo Michael J.,
Helmer Drew A.,
Klein Jacquelyn C.,
Osinubi Omowunmi Y.,
Ndirangu Duncan,
PatrickDeLuca Lydia A.,
Sotolongo Anays M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the clinical respiratory journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.789
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1752-699X
pISSN - 1752-6981
DOI - 10.1111/crj.12552
Subject(s) - dlco , medicine , spirometry , pulmonary function testing , software deployment , veterans affairs , respiratory system , diffusing capacity , intensive care medicine , emergency medicine , environmental health , lung , lung function , asthma , computer science , operating system
Following deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan (“post‐9/11”), a spectrum of respiratory conditions has been reported; however, there are few published reports of objective physiologic data or later experience of symptoms and function. To better understand the post‐deployment clinical presentation, we conducted a retrospective review of pulmonary function testing in 143 veterans referred to our tertiary care clinic for post‐deployment health concerns. More than 75% of our sample had normal lung volumes and spirometry on pulmonary function testing; however, an isolated reduction in lung diffusing capacity (DLCO) was observed in 30% of our sample of post‐9/11 veterans. An isolated reduction in DLCO is a rare pattern in primary‐care seeking dyspneic patients, but is commonly associated with underlying pulmonary disease. Post‐9/11 veterans with respiratory complaints and an isolated reduction in DLCO should undergo further evaluation.