RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Lung function in white children aged 4 to 19 years: II--Single breath analysis and plethysmography.
JF Thorax
JO Thorax
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Thoracic Society
SP 803
OP 808
DO 10.1136/thx.48.8.803
VO 48
IS 8
A1 M Rosenthal
A1 D Cramer
A1 S H Bain
A1 D Denison
A1 A Bush
A1 J O Warner
YR 1993
UL http://thorax.bmj.com/content/48/8/803.abstract
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.