LUNG INJURY RELATED TO CONSUMING SAUROPUS-ANDROGYNUS VEGETABLE

Background: Taking Sauropus androgynus, a Malaysian food, to reduce we ight began as a fad in Taiwan in 1994. Some advocates of this fed deve loped pulmonary dysfunction. The aim of this study is to report the lu ng injury in patients taking Sauropus androgynus. Methods: From July 1 995 to November 1995, we investigated 104 nonsmoking patients (one mal e and 103 females) with chest roentgenography, pulmonary function test , and Technetium 99m-labeled diethylene triamine penta-acetate (Tc-99m DTPA) radioaerosol inhalation lung scintigraphy. Results: Among the 9 0 patients receiving Tc-99m DTPA inhalation lung scan, 46 (51.1%) pati ents had increased clearance of Tc-99m DTPA from lung and 20 (22.2%) p atients had inhomogeneous deposition of the submicronic radioaerosol, Eighteen (18/100) patients had obstructive ventilatory impairment in p ulmonary function test. Analyzing the results, we found that the patie nts with respiratory symptoms (n = 42) took more vegetables (p = 0.016 ), had increased clearance of Tc-99m DTPA (p = 0.010) and had lower FE V1 (p = 0.001), FEV1/FVC (p < 0.001), FEF25-75 (p = 0.001), VC (p = 0. 002) and DLCO (p = 0.009) than the patients without respiratory sympto ms (n = 62). FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were significantly reduced in patients with severe impairment of alveolar permeability. The cumulative dosage and duration of exposure were significantly associated with the reduc tion of FEV1 and FEV1/FVC. Conclusion: The lung injury after taking Sa uropus androgynus involves alveoli and/or small airways and is manifes t as obstructive ventilatory impairment with inhomogeneous aerosol dis tribution and increased lung epithelial permeability.