Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide is significantly associated with cardiovascular disease-related plasma proteins, independently of obstruction

Several CVD-linked plasma proteins were associated with D_LCO in subjects without airflow obstruction on spirometry and after adjustments for known cardiovascular morbidity. The likely explanations may be the pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory nature of many of the proteins causing changes in gas exchange. These proteins could potentially signal for early disease mechanisms leading to impaired gas exchange.