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INCREASED GAS TRANSFER |
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TLCO always raised: |
conditions causing pulmonary haemorrhage, eg. Goodpasture's syndromeL to R shunts polycythaemia |
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K CO normal; TLCO sometimes raised: |
asthma |
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decreased TL CO, normal or raised KCO: |
extrapulmonary restriction: |
pleural disease kyphoscoliosis neuromuscular problems |
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normal K CO if remaining lung is normal: |
pneumonectomy |
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NB: increased gas transfer = high TL
CO, DLCO or KCO;TL
CO=CO transfer factor for whole lung (single breath CO transfer);K
CO=gas transfer coefficient (=TLCO/VA ), ie. it is corrected for lung volume.click here to return to the main contents page of Differential Diagnoses in General Medicine