Tracheobronchial clearance in patients with emphysema associated with alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency.
Tracheobronchial clearance was studied in five patients who had emphysema associated with deficiency of serum alpha1-antitrypsin but no history of chronic bronchitis. After the patients had inhaled an aerosol of 6 micrometer teflon particles tagged with 99mTc, the radioactivity in the lungs was followed externally during 2 h. Clearance in the emphysematous patients was normal or even rapid as compared with clearance in healthy subjects, and was significantly more rapid than clearance in patients with a history of chronic bronchitis. The results indicate that emphysema can develop in patients with alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency without their having an impairment of mucociliary transport.
D000368:Aged; D001980:Bronchi / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002923:Cilia / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013667:Technetium; D014132:Trachea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency
D013667:Technetium