Impaired lung epithelial permeability in diabetics detected by technetium-99m-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy.
The clearance of inhaled 99mTc-diethyl triaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) aerosol from the lungs is used as an index of lung epithelial permeability. We investigated the involvement of the lung in diabetic patients using 99mTc-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy.


METHODS
A total of 33 diabetic patients were studied. Thirteen had complications such as retinopathy and/or nephropathy (Group A) and 20 were without complications (Group B). As a control group, 20 healthy nonsmokers were studied. Dynamic scintigrams (2 min/frame, up to 30 min) were obtained following inhalation of 99mTc-DTPA through a radioaerosol delivery system. Time-activity curves were obtained and half-time (T1/2) of DTPA was measured from the curves.


RESULTS
The mean T1/2 values (min +/- s.d.) were calculated to be 133.05 +/- 46.97, 93.67 +/- 21.23, 91.97 +/- 18.21 (Group A, Group B and controls, respectively). The mean T1/2 of Group A was significantly longer than controls (p < 0.005) and than that of Group B (p < 0.005) indicating decreased epithelial permeability. No such statistical difference was detected between Group B and controls (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The lung is a target organ in diabetes and lung involvement is closely related to other vascular complications. The presence of lung involvement can be readily detected by 99mTc-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy.
Caner
B
B
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey.
Ugur
O
O
Bayraktar
M
M
Ulutuncel
N
N
Mentes
T
T
Telatar
F
F
Bekdik
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D000368:Aged; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010539:Permeability; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate
D000336:Aerosols; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate