title: Evaluation of lung epithelial permeability in the volatile substance abuse using Tc-99m DTPA aerosol scintigraphy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic inhalant use is associated with significant toxic effects, including neurological, renal, hepatic, and pulmonary damage. However, there is a paucity of reports regarding respiratory complications in inhalant abusers. The aim of this study was to evaluate pulmonary epithelial permeability in the volatile substance abuse (VSA) using Tc-99m DTPA aerosol scintigraphy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 18 patients with volatile substance abuse and 18 volunteer controls. All of patients and controls were smokers. Tc-99m DTPA aerosol scintigraphy was performed in all cases. Time-activity curves from each lung were generated and clearance half-time (T(1/2)) of Tc-99m DTPA were calculated. T(1/2) of whole lung was calculated as a mean of the T(1/2) of left and right lung.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The T(1/2) values of Tc-99m DTPA clearance in the substance abusers were significantly decreased as compared to the control group with respective mean values of 28.86 ± 8.44, and 62.14 ± 26.12 min (p = 0.001). It was seen Tc-99m DTPA clearance from lung was faster as the duration of substance abuse was increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tc-99m DTPA pulmonary clearance is markedly accelerated in the volatile substance abuse. This suggests that inhalant abuse of substance may produce abnormalities in pulmonary alveolo-capillary membrane function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cayir
authors.forename: Koray
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Demirel
authors.forename: Meliha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
authors.forename: Gokhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koca
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate