PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Elpis Hatziagorou
AU  - Vasiliki Avramidou
AU  - Fotis Kirvassilis
AU  - Vivian Georgopoulou
AU  - Stefanos Nikopoulos
AU  - John Tsanakas
TI  - Sensitivity of lung clearance index and chest computed tomography in early lung disease among children with non-CF bronchiectasis
DP  - 2012 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P4608
VI  - 40
IP  - Suppl 56
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P4608.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P4608.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40
AB  - Background: Lung disease starts before clinical symptoms become prominent, among CF children. Computed chest tomography (CT) is the reference method for identifying structural changes. It has been suggested that the Lung Clearance Index (LCI) is a sensitive marker allowing non-invasive monitoring of lung disease.Aim: The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of the LCI in comparison to CT among children with non-CF bronchiecatsis, with early lung disease and normal FEV1 (>80% predicted).Method: MBW and low-dose HRCT were performed in 14 patients (6-21 years) with non-CF bronchiectasis and normal FEV1 (>80% predicted.) HRCT scans, LCI and FEV1 were recorded. A modified Bhalla score was used to assess HRCT scans. LCI was assessed with Multiple Breath Washout measurements.Results: LCI was abnormal in 12/15 (80%) of children. 11/15 patients (73%) demonstrated both, increased LCI and structural changes on CT. 1/15 (6%) had normal results in both measurements. There was a significant linear correlation between CT-score and LCI in 12/15 (87%) of patients; whereas no such correlation was observed between CT-score and FEV1. Sensitivity of the LCI to detect structural lung damage was 85%, whereas specificity of LCI was 50%.Conclusions: Diagnostic accuracy of the LCI for detecting CF lung disease in patients with normal FEV1 was good when compared to CT. Results indicate that structural changes are unlikely if a normal LCI is measured. The LCI may be a suitable surrogate marker for monitoring progression of lung disease among children with non-CF bronchiecatsis.