Relationship between the partial pressure of arterial oxygen and airflow limitation in children with cystic fibrosis.

To assess whether it would be possible to avoid repeated arterial blood sampling in children with cystic fibrosis, the relation between the forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% of the vital capacity (FEF25%-75%) and the partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) was examined. The PaO2 and the logarithm of the FEF25%-75% (expressed as a percentage of that predicted) showed the strongest correlation (r = 0.89, p less than 0.001). Although this relation cannot be used when an accurate value for the PaO2 is required, it can sometimes be useful for determining the need for an arterial puncture.