Bronchial Deposition and Clearance of Aerosols

Abstract

The regional deposition and mucociliary clearance kinetics of inhaled particles have been measured by following the retention of inert γ-emitting monodisperse test aerosols. This study extends the previously reported work with quantitative assessment of the extent of intersubject variability and intrasubject reproducibility; and reports on the effects of acute cigarette smoke exposure, abstinence from cigarettes in smokers, and of injected methacholine on particle deposition and clearance. The results are integrated with our previous findings and the work of other investigators into a tentative schema for the pathogenesis of chronic bronchitis.