Abstract
Background: The attenuation of the lung parenchyma increases on expiration as a consequence of decreased air in the lung. Expiratory CT scans have been used to show air trapping in patients with chronic airway disease and diffuse parenchymal disease and also in asymptomatic smokers. Although there have been several reports investigating the regional air trapping on a expiratory CT scan, there have been only a few reports evaluating the changes of whole lung attenuation with considering its clinical significance, and especially in healthy subjects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation of an expiratory increase of lung attenuation with age and smoking in healthy subjects. Methods: Asymptomatic subjects who underwent a low dose chest CT scan as part of a routine check-up and who showed normal spirometry and a normal inspiratory CT scan were recruited for this study. We excluded the subjects with significant regional air trapping seen on their expiratory CT scan. Lung attenuation was measured at 24 points of both the inspiratory and expiratory CT scans, respectively, for 100 subjects. The correlations between an expiratory increase of the lung attenuation and the amount of smoking, the patient's age and the results of spirometric test were assessed. Results: There were 87 men and 13 women included in this study. Their median age was 49.0 years old (range:25~71). Sixty current smokers, 24 ex-smokers and 16 non-smokers were included. As age increased, the expiratory increase of lung attenuation was reduced at every measuring points (r=-0.297~-0.487, Pearson correlation). The statistical significance was maintained after controlling for the effect of smoking. Smoking was associated with a reduction of the expiratory increase of lung attenuation. But the significance was reduced after controlling for the patient's age. The $FEV_1$, FVC, $FEV_1/FVC$ and $FEF_{25{\sim}75%}$ were not associated with an expiratory increase of lung attenuation. Conclusion: The expiratory increase of lung attenuation in subjects with a normal inspiratory CT scan was negatively correlated with age. It was also reduced in heavy smokers. It may reflect aging and the smoking related changes.
연구배경: 호기말에 흉부 촬영을 시행하면 폐 내의 공기의 부피가 감소되어 폐 감쇄도가 증가한다. 이런 폐 감쇄도의 변화가 국소적으로 저하되는 공기 가둠 현상에 대해서는 일부 연구들이 있었으나 전체 폐의 전반적인 감쇄도 변화에 대한 연구는 거의 없고, 특히 정상인을 대상으로 한 연구는 거의 없다. 저자들은 호흡기 질환이 없으며 폐기능 및 흡기 전산화단층촬영이 정상 소견이고 호기 영상에서 국소적인 공기 가둠 현상이 없는 100명을 대상으로 연구를 수행하였다. 방 법: 흉부 전산화단층촬영 영상에서 24개의 지점을 정하고, 흡기 및 호기 시 각 지점에서 폐 음영도를 측정한 후 호기말 폐 감쇄도 증가와 흡연량, 연령 사이의 상관 관계를 알아보았다. 결 과: 연구 대상 100명의 연령은 중앙값 49.0세(범위 25~71세)였고, 평균 흡연량은 $22.5{\pm}17.0$갑년이었다. 연령과 폐 감쇄도의 증가 사이에는 유의한 음의 상관관계가 있었으며 이는 흡연의 효과를 보정하였을 때에도 유지되었고, 연령을 기준으로 세 군으로 나누어 폐 감쇄도의 증가 정도를 비교하였을 때에도 유의한 차이가 있었다. 흡연량과 호기말 폐 감쇄도의 증가 사이에는 유의한 음의 상관관계가 관찰되었으나 연령을 보정하였을 때에는 유의성이 감소하였다. 결 론: 흡기-호기 시의 폐의 전반적인 감쇄도 변화 정도는 연령과 상관관계가 있으며, 노화를 반영할 가능성이 있다.
