Targeting aerosol deposition in patients with cystic fibrosis: effects of alterations in particle size and inspiratory flow rate.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if aerosolized medications can be targeted to deposit in the smaller, peripheral airways or the larger, central airways of adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients by varying particle size and inspiratory flow rate.


METHODS
Randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
Outpatient research laboratory.


METHODS
Nine adult patients with CF.


METHODS
Patients inhaled an aerosol comprised of 3.68+/-0.04 microm saline solution droplets (two visits) or 1.01+/- 0.2 microm saline solution droplets (two visits) for 30 s, starting from functional residual capacity and breathing at a slow or faster inspiratory flow rate. On all visits, the saline solution was admixed with the radioisotope (99m)Tc. Immediately after inhalation, a gamma camera recorded the deposition pattern of the radioaerosol in the lungs. Deposition images were analyzed in terms of the inner:outer zone (I:O) ratio, a measure of deposition in an inner zone (large, central airways) vs. an outer zone (small airways and alveoli).


RESULTS
For the 3.68-microm aerosol, I:O ratios averaged 2.29+/-1.45 and 2.54+/-1.48 (p>0.05), indicating that aerosol distribution within the lungs was unchanged while breathing at 12+/-2 L/min vs. 31+/-5 L/min, respectively. For the 1.01-microm aerosol, I:O ratios averaged 2.09+/-0.96 and 3.19+/-1.95 (p<0.05), indicating that deposition was predominantly in the smaller airways while breathing at 18+/-5 L/min and in the larger airways while breathing at 38+/-8 L/min, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the targeted delivery of an aerosol to the smaller, peripheral airways or the larger, central airways of adult CF patients may be achieved by generating an aerosol comprised of approximately 1.0-microm particles and inspiring from functional residual capacity at approximately 18 L/min and approximately 38 L/min, respectively.
Laube
B L
BL
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA. blaube@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu
Jashnani
R
R
Dalby
R N
RN
Zeitlin
P L
PL
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates / Q000502:physiology; D005652:Functional Residual Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007320:Inspiratory Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D010316:Particle Size; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry
D000336:Aerosols; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate