Correct Diffusing Capacity of Lung for Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Monoxide Transfer Coefficient in Considering Respiratory Function in Patients With Stable Anorexia Nervosa

摘要

There is another explanation for the low diffusing capacity of the nlung for carbon monoxide (D lco) values of patients with moderate-nto-severe anorexia reported by Gardini Gardenghi and colleagues n 1 n nin CHEST (November 2009) other than “the progressive enlarge-nment of peripheral lung units without relevant alveolar septa ndestruction.” Because D lco varies with hematocrit, and patients nwith anorexia nervosa often have anemia, n 2 n it is particularly nimportant to adjust predicted D lco and carbon monoxide transfer ncoeffi cient (K co ) for hematocrit, which was not done in their nstudy.