Age-related reduction in 99Tcm-DTPA alveolar-capillary clearance in normal humans.

Age is known to reduce the efficacy of body organs and systems, even in the absence of disease. The alveolar-capillary clearance (ACC) rate is representative of the alveolar-capillary barrier's functional state. We studied 29 healthy non-smokers, who were selected after clinical and radiographic evaluation. The patients were divided into three groups based on age: Group I, < or = 30 years (n = 10); Group II, 31-55 years (n = 9); Group III, > or = 56 years (n = 10). Each patient inhaled 750 MBq 99Tcm-diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (99Tcm-DTPA) aerosol generated by a Venticis nebulizer (particles with a mean diameter of 1.1 microns) for 5 min. Forty frames of 30 s duration each were acquired and the ACC rates for the right and left lungs determined using a computer program. The mean ACC rates for the three groups were as follows: Group I, 1.31% min-1; Group II, 1.08% min-1; Group III, 0.76% min-1. The differences between Groups I and III (P < 0.001) and Groups II and III (P = 0.03) were shown to be significant. There was no significant difference between Groups I and II. Possible explanations for an age-related reduction in ACC rates include a reduction in the internal alveolar surface, the closure of the small airways, a reduction in the lung blood capillaries and a reduction in cardiac output. We conclude that there appears to be an age-related reduction in ACC rates in healthy non-smokers, even in the absence of clinically and radiographically detectable lung disease. However, larger studies are required.