The multibreath helium equilibration method is the technique recommended for routine measurement of static lung volumes in normal subjects. However, pregnancy could be an exception to this general rule, due to airway closure during the second half of gestation. The aim of this study was to compare the measurements of lung volumes by plethysmography and helium dilution during pregnancy.Twenty three healthy women were studied at 12, 24 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, and 4 months postpartum. Total lung capacity (TLC), functional residual capacity (FRC) and residual volume (RV) were measured by multibreath helium equilibration (TLCHe, FRCHe and RVHe) and by plethysmography (TLCbox, FRCbox and RVbox).Only at 36 weeks were there differences between the two methods. RVbox was significantly larger than RVHe We conclude that using the multibreath helium equilibration method to measure lung volumes in at-term pregnant women results in underestimation of functional residual capacity and total lung capacity.
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