INCREASED AIRWAY MUCOSAL PERMEABILITY OF SMOKERS - RELATIONSHIP TO AIRWAY REACTIVITY

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Abstract
Pulmonary epithelial permeability and bronchial reactivity were studied in 10 smoking and 8 nonsmoking adults. Permeability was measured as the disappearance half-life (T1/2) of aerosolized 99mTc-DTPA [technetium-99m-labeled diethylenetriamine pentacetate] from the lungs, and a permeability index (PI) calculated that reflected the appearance of the tracer in the blood. Smokers had increased permeability with a T1/2 of 44.6 .+-. 12.2 min and PI values at 10, 25 and 60 min of 27.3 .+-. 13.2, 32.5 .+-. 10.2 and 34.3 .+-. 9.9, compared with those in nonsmokers with a T1/2 of 110.0 .+-. 62.7 min and PI values of 9.4 .+-. 5.7, 14.9 .+-. 8.3 and 23.1 .+-. 9.0. Bronchial reactivity to histamine was measured with and without prior exposure to aerosolized propranolol (to achieve .beta.-blockade of airway smooth muscle). Reactivity increased significantly (P < 0.001) in both groups after .beta.-blockade, but no difference was found between smokers and nonsmokers. Despite the increased permeability in smokers, there was no evidence of increased reactivity.

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