PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Susanne Fuchs
AU  - Edmund Petri
AU  - Georg Hülskamp
AU  - Monika. Gappa
TI  - Routine measurement of the LCI in CF with an ultrasonic device for multiple breath nitrogen washout
DP  - 2012 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P4601
VI  - 40
IP  - Suppl 56
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P4601.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P4601.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40
AB  - During the last decade multiple breath washout technique (MBW) for calculating the Lung Clearance Index (LCI) has become very popular for assessing ventilation inhomogeneity (VI) as an early manifestation of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) lung disease. However, routine use has been difficult not only due to limited availability of licensed equipment. Inert tracer gases (e.g. SF6, He) certified for medical purposes are not universally available. Switch to nitrogen washout (MBWN2) using 100% oxygen may overcome this problem.The aim of this cross sectional study was to assess whether LCI derived from MBWN2 discriminates as well as MBWSF6 between patients with CF and healthy controls.19 controls (7-51years) and 11 unselected patients with CF (7-25 years) performed 2-3 single MBWN2 using the EasyOne Pro LAB™ (ndd Switzerland) with 100% oxygen.Mean (SD) LCI was 6.5 (0.64) in controls and 9.3 (1.93) in CF with a mean difference (95% ci, p-value) of -2.83 (-4.14;-1.51, 0.001) between the groups. Within-test repeatability (CV%) was 5.3% in controls and 7.7% in CF.Assessment of LCI using licensed equipment for MBWN2 was feasible and well tolerated in both, children and adults and patients and controls. LCI based on MBWN2 differed significantly between patients with CF and controls and results were comparable to published data obtained with different equipment and with using SF6 as tracer gas. We conclude that MBWN2 reflects VI similar to MBWSF6 and may thus be used for clinical application of MBW in patients with CF.