Dlco sb是什麼意思

"DLCO SB" is an acronym used in pulmonary function testing, which is a type of medical test to assess how well the lungs are working. It stands for "Diffusion Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide Single-Breath".

Diffusion capacity (DLCO) is a measure of how efficiently the lungs transfer oxygen from the inhaled air into the bloodstream and remove carbon dioxide from the blood into the exhaled air. Carbon monoxide (CO) is used in the test because it has a similar molecular size to oxygen and competes for the same binding sites on the blood cells.

"Single-Breath" (SB) refers to the method used to perform the test, where the patient inhales a mixture of gases, including carbon monoxide, and exhales as much as possible in a single, forced breath. The amount of carbon monoxide that has been absorbed by the blood is then measured to calculate the DLCO value.

A decreased DLCO SB value can indicate several lung diseases, such as interstitial lung disease, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or pulmonary hypertension. It can also be affected by conditions that reduce lung volume, such as obesity or chest wall abnormalities. The test is often used to help diagnose and monitor these conditions.