PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - M Rosenthal AU - D Cramer AU - S H Bain AU - D Denison AU - A Bush AU - J O Warner TI - Lung function in white children aged 4 to 19 years: II--Single breath analysis and plethysmography. AID - 10.1136/thx.48.8.803 DP - 1993 Aug 01 TA - Thorax PG - 803--808 VI - 48 IP - 8 4099 - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/48/8/803.short 4100 - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/48/8/803.full SO - Thorax1993 Aug 01; 48 AB - OBJECTIVE--A study was performed to determine reference ranges for whole body plethysmographic gas volumes and single breath gas transfer in healthy prepubertal and pubertal schoolchildren. METHODS--The study was performed in 772 white London schoolchildren (455 male) who were clinically examined, assessed auxologically and, in 63% of cases, pubertally staged. Regression equations for the calculation of standard deviation scores were derived. RESULTS--Male lung function variables showed a discontinuous pattern of increase with standing height. Linear increases until puberty were followed by a sudden pubertal rise and a further increase with height which was more marked than before puberty. Correction for varying thoracic dimensions eliminated these changes. In females a smoother curvilinear relationship was observed with no correction possible for thoracic size. CONCLUSIONS--Male puberty leads to profound changes in pulmonary function mostly related to thoracic size, an effect not observed in females.