Correlation Engine 2.0
Clear Search sequence regions


  • blood flow (1)
  • cardiac flows (1)
  • cardiac output (1)
  • female (1)
  • haemoglobin (1)
  • humans (1)
  • lung (6)
  • lung function (1)
  • men (4)
  • patent (20)
  • suggests (2)
  • transfer factor (6)
  • women (8)
  • Sizes of these terms reflect their relevance to your search.

    What is the central question of this study? Do individuals with a patent foramen ovale (PFO+ ) have a lower lung transfer factor for carbon monoxide than those without (PFO- )? What is the main finding and its importance? We found a lower rate constant for carbon monoxide uptake in PFO+ compared with PFO- women, which was physiologically relevant (≥0.5 z-score difference), but not for PFO+ versus PFO- men. This suggests that factors independent of the PFO are responsible for our findings, possibly inherent structural differences in the lung. The transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide (TLCO ) measure assumes that all cardiac output flows through the pulmonary circuit. However, right-to-left blood flow through a shunt can result in a lower transfer factor than predicted. A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a potential source of right-to-left shunt that is present in ∼35% of the population, but the effect of PFO on TLCO is unknown. We sought to determine the effect of PFO on the TLCO . We conducted a retrospective analysis of TLCO data from 239 (101 women) participants. Anthropometrics and lung function, including spirometry, plethysmography and TLCO , were compiled from our previously published work. Women, but not men, with a PFO had a significantly lower TLCO and rate constant for carbon monoxide uptake (KCO ) (percentage of predicted and z-score) than women without a PFO. Women and men with a PFO had normal alveolar volumes that did not differ from those without a PFO. Correcting the data for haemoglobin in a subset of subjects did not change the results (n = 58; 25 women). The lower KCO in women with versus without a PFO was physiologically relevant (≥0.5 z-score difference). There was no effect of PFO in men. This suggests that factors independent of the PFO are responsible for our findings, possibly inherent structural differences in the lung. © 2022 The Authors. Experimental Physiology © 2022 The Physiological Society.

    Citation

    Annalisa E Schallerer, Joseph W Duke, Julia P Speros, Tyler S Mangum, H Cameron Norris, Kara M Beasley, Steven S Laurie, Jonathan E Elliott, James T Davis, Andrew T Lovering. Lower transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide in women with a patent foramen ovale. Experimental physiology. 2022 Mar;107(3):243-252

    Expand section icon Mesh Tags

    Expand section icon Substances


    PMID: 35068009

    View Full Text