MUCOCILIARY TRANSPORT INVIVO AND INVITRO - RELATIONS TO SPUTUM PROPERTIES IN CHRONIC-BRONCHITIS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 61  (5) , 254-264
Abstract
In vivo and in vitro mucociliary clearance were investigated in 27 patients with chronic bronchitis in relation to the rheological, cytobacteriological and biochemical characteristics of sputum. In normal subjects the mean percentage of bronchial radioactivity cleared (PBRC) by mucociliary clearance was 30.1 .+-. SD:12.5. Patients were differentiated into 2 groups: 10 patients showing a PBRC similar to that of the normal subjects (30.6 .+-. SD:14.3); 17 patients with a markedly decreased mucociliary clearance (PBRC:4.1 .+-. SD:4.2). In the healthy subjects PBRC by coughing was significantly lower than by mucociliary clearance; no consistent difference was observed in the patients. A weak but significant positive correlation (r = 0.53, P < 0.01) was observed between in vivo mucociliary clearance and the relative transport rate of the sputum measured on the ciliated frog palate mucosa. The optimal rheological conditions for mucociliary transport were characterized by an apparent viscosity (.eta.o) ranging from 25 to 180 poise, a strain recovery (SR) ranging from 4 to 12 units and an elastic modulus (G) ranging from 4 to 8 dyn/cm-2. Apparent viscosity and the elastic modulus, G, respectively, were significantly correlated to the concentration of serum albumin and of secretory IgA. Patients with a sputum leukocyte count higher than 3500/mm3 had a significantly decreased mucociliary clearance compared to non-purulent sputum patients.

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