Explain the alveolar-arterial gradient and its clinical use.

Explain the alveolar-arterial gradient and its clinical use.

• A. It measures the difference between alveolar oxygen and arterial oxygen; an increased gradient suggests diffusion impairment, V/Q mismatch, or shunt
• B. It measures blood glucose levels
• C. It is not clinically useful
• D. It only reflects oxygen delivery to tissues

Answer: (A)