Evaluation of the Urinary Desmosine Radioimmunoassay as a Monitor of Lung Injury after Endobronchial Elastase Instillation in Sheep

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Abstract
Thirty male sheep were treated with varying doses off endobronchial elastase. Urinary excretion of elastin peptides was then measured by desmosine radioimmunoassay and compared with pre-enzyme values. Mean linear intercepts were measured in treated and untreated lobes 4 wk later, and in addition, lung perfusion, ventilation, and volume were measured before enzyme treatment and 4 wk later using radionuclide-imaging techniques. Most of the elevation in urinary desmosine excretion occurred in the first 48 h after elastase administration. The increase in desmosine excretion was positively correlated with: enzyme dose (r = 0.74, p < 0.01), increase in mean linear intercept (r = 0.61, p < 0.05), decrease in lung perfusion (r = 0.77, p < 0.01), and decrease in ventilation (r = 0.58, p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that the urinary desmosine radioimmunoassay is a reliable index of pulmonary elastin breakdown and of several resultant anatomic and physiologic stigmata of pulmonary emphysema.

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