Newly diagnosed help with dlco
Good morning. I am new to this forum and copd. I am not shocked by the diagnosis but definitely was not aware of how complex it is. I have learned so much reading through others posts and questions. I have a question about dlco. Everything I read talks about it as a percentage. Mine is a number. Does anyone know how to compute it or have any idea what the percentage would be. It says 9.23ml. I see my pulmonary doctor Friday again so if I don’t get it figured out I will ask him. My doctor said I am severe with a fev1 at 32%. Said I have bad air trapping but didn’t give me the percentage for that. The gold standard talks about it in percentage. Backstory, I am 40 years old. Had respiratory failure in the spring with o2 levels at 45 upon the ambulance showing up. Spent a week in the hospital. Didn’t follow up after discharge until recently. Diagnosed as stage 3.
Hi
and welcome! You may be aware we cannot provide medical advice or diagnostics over the internet (for your own safety), but your concern certainly warrants a reply.
Let me see if I can help you with this concern.
The Diffusing Capacity of the Lungs for Carbon Dioxide (DLCO), is a measurement of the ability of the lungs to transfer gas (oxygen), to the pulmonary capillaries. The test actually measures the quantity of carbon monoxide (CO) transferred per minute from alveolar gas to the hemoglobin in the capillaries. Typically, this is measured and reported as milliliters per minute per millimeter of mercury, (mL/min/mm Hg). I would say that is what the number you have shared with us (9.23 ml) means. However, sometimes the results are reported as a percentage of what is predicted.
For a further clarification of what the results mean in your particular case, I would suggest you speak with your physician about the details.
I do hope this brief reply was helpful for you.
All the best,
Leon (author/moderator)
