TRACHEOBRONCHIAL PARTICLE DEPOSITION AND CLEARANCE IN IMMOTILE CILIA SYNDROME PATIENTS

Tracheobronchial clearance was investigated in six persons with immoti le cilia syndrome (ICS). The persons inhaled 6 mum (aerodynamic diamet er) Teflon particles labelled with In-111 and lung retention (Ret) was measured immediately, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the inhalation. Airwa y resistance, FVC, FEV, and FEF75-85% were also measured. The clearanc e rate decreased markedly with time. At 72 hours 82% of the particles had cleared and the fast clearance phase appeared to be finished. Ret7 2 was strongly correlated with airway resistance (R(aw)), r = 0.89. At the same R(aw) the Ret72-values in persons with ICS were clearly lowe r than Ret24-values in healthy subjects studied earlier, indicating a more central deposition. Also FEF75-85% correlated with Ret72, r = 0.9 0. Our results indicate that the major part of the particles, deposite d on the tracheobronchial region, clear within 72 hours in spite of la cking mucociliary clearance.