Detection of pulmonary calcification in haemodialised patients by whole-body scintigraphy and the impact of the calcification to parameters of spirometry.

The early diagnosis of metastatic pulmonary calcification is beneficial, as some patients may develop restrictive changes in respiratory function or in some cases lethal acute respiratory distress. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether scanning with ⁹⁹(m)Tc DPD might be useful in early diagnosis of pulmonary calcification in setting of chronic renal failure and hemodialysis and if presence of pulmonary calcification is associated with an abnormality in respiratory parameters. Forty-two patients with end-stage renal disease, who were treated by regular haemodialysis, were investigated. Twenty five (59.5%) out of forty two patients had increased lung uptake of ⁹⁹(m)Tc DPD at whole body scintigraphy-grade 2 group. These patients were on dialysis 149±26 months compared with 57±16 months in 17 patients with a normal lung uptake of ⁹⁹(m)Tc DPD at whole body scintigraphy- grade 1 group (p<0.01). In grade 2 group 22 patients (88%) had significantly lower (p<0.01) parameters of spirometry (FEF25-75, FEF75 FEF50, FEF25) compared to predicted values while in grade 1 group the parameters were significantly lower in only six patients (35.3%). There was statistically insignificant difference between these two groups regarding parathyroid hormone level (p>0.05). These observations confirm previous findings that scintigraphy with ⁹⁹(m)Tc DPD may be efficious in early diagnosis of pulmonary calcification in hemodialised patients as well as the fact that spirometry is useful in patients with confirmed pulmonary calcifications.