TY - JOUR T1 - Airway length per generation in the human healthy lung and the impact of COPD JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2021.PA1951 VL - 58 IS - suppl 65 SP - PA1951 AU - Vincent Geudens AU - Celine Aelbrecht AU - Janne Kaes AU - Karen Maes AU - Tinne Goos AU - Arno Vanstapel AU - Margot Sterkens AU - Stephanie Everaerts AU - Iwein Gyselinck AU - Jan Van Slambrouck AU - Stijn E. Verleden AU - Geert M. Verleden AU - Laurens J. Ceulemans AU - Robin Vos AU - Wim A. Wuyts AU - Bart M. Vanaudenaerde AU - Wim Janssens AU - Ghislaine Gayan-Ramirez Y1 - 2021/09/05 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/PA1951.abstract N2 - Within the human lung, the airway length gradually declines per generation which is dependent on the distance of the alveolar units to the main bronchus. How this complex hierarchical system is affected by chronic lung diseases like COPD remains unknown.We aimed to investigate the airway length per generation of air-inflated (TLC) control and end-stage COPD whole lungs using microCT (155µM resolution). Our analysis was restricted to the longest airway tree from the main bronchus to the basal segment of the lower lobe as uniform simplified conceptual design. We hypothesized that hyperinflation in COPD stretches the airways and this is more pronounced in the more distal generations.We assessed lower lobe volume, length of the longest airway branch and airway length per generation in 6 control (non-used donors) and 4 COPD (end-stage) explant lungs, matched for age and length.In COPD, lower lobe volume increased with 68% (p=0.004, fig. 1.a) and total airway branch length with 14% (p=0.028, fig. 1.b). Linear regression of consecutive airway length per generation showed a progressive decline of -0.54mm/generation in normal lungs, which is not the case in COPD due to the elongation of the more distal airways (-0.0029mm/generation; p=0.013 compared to donor) (fig. 1.c).Our results show an elongation of the more distal airway in COPD, corresponding with lung hyperinflation. Potentially, this impacts the airflow and function of the lung.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA1951.This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only). ER -