The influence of age on the pulmonary clearance of 99Tcm-DTPA radioaerosol.
Age-dependent changes of 99Tcm-DTPA radioaerosol transpulmonary clearance have been investigated in 49 healthy volunteers with an age range of 21-63 years. The clearance was uniformly increased in all smokers irrespective of age, but it showed a highly significant (p less than 0.001) decrease in non-smoking patients over 50 years. Several age-related changes in the ageing lung can contribute to this decreased clearance, but the reduced alveolar-capillary surface area available for the transport is probably the key factor. The practical implication of the results is the need to use age-related normal ranges when interpreting 99Tcm-DTPA radioaerosol clearance studies.
Pigorini
F
F
Nuclear Medicine Service, Hospital C. Forlanini, Rome.
Maini
C L
CL
Pau
F
F
Giosue
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012016:Reference Values; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism; D013667:Technetium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate
D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D013667:Technetium; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate