TRACHEOBRONCHIAL CLEARANCE IN PATIENTS WITH EMPHYSEMA ASSOCIATED WITH ALPHA-1-ANTITRYPSIN DEFICIENCY

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 59  (1) , 1-7
Abstract
Tracheobronchial clearance was studied in 5 patients who had emphysema associated with deficiency of serum .alpha.1-antitrypsin but no history of chronic bronchitis. After the patients had inhaled an aerosol of 6 .mu.m teflon particles tagged with 99mTc, the radioactivity in the lungs was followed externally during 2 h. Clearance in the emphysematous patients was normal or even rapid as compared with clearance in healthy subjects, and was significantly more rapid than clearance in patients with a history of chronic bronchitis. Emphysema can develop in patients with .alpha.1-antitrypsin deficiency without their having an impairment of mucociliary transport.