Alveolar epitherial permiability in bronchial asthma in children

An evaluation by ^99mTc-DTPA inhalation scintigraphy

Abstract

To evaluate alveolar epithelial permiability (k_ep) in children with bronchial asthma, ^99mTc-DTPA (diethylene triamine penta acetate) aerosol lung inhalation scintigraphies were performed. There was no correlation between the k_ep value and the severity of asthma. On the other hand, out of 10 the cases which had no aerosol deposition defect in the lung field, 4 showed high k_ep values on the whole lung field and 7 had high k_ep value areas, particulary apparent in the upper lung field. These results suggest that even when the central airway lesions are mild, severe damage exists in the alveolar region of the peripheral airway.