Progress of emphysema in severe alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency as assessed by annual CT.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To assess serial CT as a measure of the progress of emphysema in patients with severe alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (phenotype PiZ).

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

In a randomized placebo-controlled study of alpha 1-antitrypsin augmentation therapy, 22 patients with moderate emphysema were followed for 2-4 years with an annual lung CT. The images were analysed by means of semiautomatic lung detection, and the degree of emphysema was quantitated by the density-mask and the percentile methods. The influence of lung volume was standardised by a regression model.

RESULTS:

A highly significant decline in Hounsfield units (HU) was found in low-density areas, corresponding to a mean (SE) annual loss of lung tissue of 2.1 (0.4) g/l lung volume. Analysis of a single slice at 5 cm below the level of the carina gave comparable results: 2.4 (0.4) g/l.

CONCLUSION:

Serial CT is a sensitive measure of the progress of emphysema in patients with severe alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency.

• Authors: A Dirksen, M Friis, K P Olesen, L T Skovgaard, K Sørensen
• Journal: Acta radiologica (Stockholm, Sweden : 1987) (Acta Radiol) Vol. 38 Issue 5 Pg. 826-32 (Sep 1997) ISSN: 0284-1851 [Print] England
• PMID: 9332238 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Trypsin Inhibitors
• alpha 1-Antitrypsin

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Disease Progression
• Female
• Humans
• Lung (diagnostic imaging)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Phenotype
• Pulmonary Emphysema (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Regression Analysis
• Respiratory Function Tests (methods, statistics & numerical data)
• Time Factors
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed (instrumentation, methods, statistics & numerical data)
• Trypsin Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• alpha 1-Antitrypsin (therapeutic use)
• alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, physiopathology)