Lung clearance index for monitoring early lung disease in alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency

Patients with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) and a PI-ZZ genotype are at high risk to develop severe emphysema during adulthood. However, little is known about early stages of emphysema and disease manifestation in other PI-types. Spirometry is commonly used for monitoring although early manifestation of emphysema is suspected within the peripheral airways that are not accessible by forced expiratory manoeuvres.We hypothesized that the Lung Clearance Index (LCI) derived from multiple breath nitrogen-washout (N2-washout) is useful to bridge this diagnostic gap.

Source: Respiratory Medicine CME - April 27, 2016 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Susanne I. Fuchs, Nicolaus Schwerk, Klaus Pittschieler, Frank Ahrens, Winfried Baden, Robert Bals, Sebastian Fähndrich, Wolfgang Gleiber, Matthias Griese, Georg Hülskamp, Thomas Köhnlein, Ludmilla Reckling, Ernst Rietschel, Doris Staab, Monika Gappa Source Type: research