EVALUATION OF ALVEOLAR PERMEABILITY AND LUNG VENTILATION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE USING TC-99M DTPA RADIOAEROSOL INHALATION LUNG SCINTIGRAPHY

Lung ventilation (LV) and alveolar permeability (AP) were measured in 24 male chronic renal failure (CRF) patients on regular hemodialysis ( HD). LV and AP were determined by Tc-99m DTPA aerosol inhalation lung scintigraphy using commercial lung radioaerosol delivery units. The eq uilibrium LV images were visually interpreted by two independent and e xperienced nuclear medicine physicians. The degree of AP damage to the total right lung was presented as the clearance rate (k value; %/min) of the time-activity curve from dynamic total right lung images. The results showed 10/24 (42%) cases with inhomogeneous distribution and 8 /24 (33%) cases with hypoventilation on equilibrium LV images. In comp arison with 10 male normal controls, the k value of the CRF patient gr oup was larger(1.14 +/- 0.36%/min vs 0.75 +/- 0.14%/min, p value <0.05 ). In addition, there was no significant correlation for k value and a lbumin level (r(2) = 0.008) or for k value and HD duration (r(2) = 0.2 28). In conclusion, CRF can predispose patients to LV change and AP da mage. However, the degree of AP damage is not related to serum albumin level or HD duration.