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Abstract

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Most tests of lung function used in the evaluation and follow-up of the pulmonary effect of smoking reflect airway function alone such as standard spirometry. Whereas, the best established test that reflect alveolar function is the single-breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLco-SB) especially when this is expressed per liter of alveolar volume (DLco/VA). Accordingly, to study the effect of smoking on both airway and alveolar functions, it is necessary to use DLco/VA test in addition to standard spirometry. OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking on lung diffusion, to correlate the effect of cigarette smoking and smoking cessation on lung diffusion and to find out whether the effect of cigarette smoking on lung diffusion is reversible. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The effect of cigarette smoking on spirometric indicators of ventilatory function (FVC, FEV1%, PEFR) and on lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco-SB/VA) was evaluated on two occasions 6 months apart in 94 middle-aged, asymptomatic, male subjects, 56 smokers and 38 nonsmokers. RESULTS: All subjects were within the normal predicted spirometric and lung diffusion values (80-120%). The values of FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC% and PEFR averaged more than 94% in never smokers (n = 38, mean age 43.57 years), 85% predicted in smokers (n = 56, mean age 42.54 years). However, the mean rate of decrease in spirometric and lung diffusion values (DLco/VA) between smoker and non-smokers were significant (p

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