Quantitative computed tomography assessment of air trapping in relapsing polychondritis: correlations with spirometric values.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between quantitative computed tomography (CT) parameters of air trapping obtained with inspiratory and expiratory CT and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in patients with relapsing polychondritis (RP).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This study included 23 patients with RP who underwent both CT and PFTs. In each patient, the mean lung density (MLD) was obtained by averaging CT attenuation of the lung parenchyma on both inspiratory and expiratory CT. The ratio of expiratory MLD to inspiratory MLD (E/I ratio) was also calculated. Correlations between those quantitative CT measurements and the results of PFTs were evaluated using Spearman rank correlation.

RESULTS

The expiratory MLD and E/I ratio were significantly correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) %predicted, ratio of FEV1 to FVC (FEV1/FVC), and the mid expiratory phase of forced expiratory flow (FEF25%-75%) %predicted (expiratory MLD: FEV1 %predicted, r = 0.764, P < 0.0001; FEV1/FVC, r = 0.764, P < 0.0001; FEF25%-75% %predicted, r = 0.674, P < 0.001, respectively; the E/I ratio: FEV1 %predicted, r = -0.689, P < 0.001; FEV1/FVC, r = -0.689, P < 0.001; FEF25%-75% %predicted, r = -0.586, P < 0.01, respectively). The correlation between inspiratory MLD and PFTs did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

In RP patients, air trapping demonstrated on expiratory CT correlated with airway obstruction. This study may assist further refinement of the use of CT as quantitative evaluation for small and large airway obstruction in RP.