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 equilibrium LV images were visually interpreted by two independent and experienced 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 comparison with 10 male normal controls, the k value of the CRF patient group 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 albumin level (r2 = 0.008) or for k value and HD duration (r2 = 0.228). In conclusion, CRF can predispose patients to LV change and AP damage. However, the degree of AP damage is not related to serum albumin level or HD duration.