Effect of growth on lung transfer factor and its components.

ABSTRACT

Measurement of lung transfer factor for CO (TLCO) and its constituent components, viz. diffusion capacity across alveolar capillary membrane (Dm) and instant pulmonary capillary blood volume (Vc) were undertaken in 120 healthy non-smoker males by single breath technique. All the three parameters (TLCO, Dm, Vc) showed direct negative correlation with age. While TLCO and Dm showed a significant direct positive correlation with height, there was no correlation between VC and height. The degree of correlation increased when both age and height were used together than either of them alone for prediction of TLCO120. The prediction formulae (TLCO120 = 3.8 + 21 H (m)-0.308 A) using both age and height has regression value (R) of 0.6479 (p < 0.001).