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Prolonged Retention of Radioactivity Following Perfusion Lung Scan in Asthmatic Patients

University of Wisconsin Center for Health Sciences, Madison, Wisconsin

Correspondence: For reprints contact: Ian Tyson, Nuclear Medicine Section, University Hospitals, 1300 University Ave., Madison, Wis. 53706.

ABSTRACT

Abnormalities of the perfusion lung scan during acute asthmatic episodes are well known. Prolongation of the biological half-life of ¹³¹I macroaggregated albumin (MAA) has not been previously reported. Evaluation of the biological clearance of MAA from the lungs in 14 patients with asthma (7 males and 7 females) showed substantial prolongation in 12 patients. This phenomenon is not specific to asthma but has been observed in patients taking steroids, immunosuppressive therapy, viral pneumonia, and chronic interstitial lung disease.