Regional lung epithelial leakiness in smokers and nonsmokers.

In order to measure regional lung 'leakiness' we have adapted a method developed by Jones et al., to correct for background in the estimation of regional lung transfer of DTPA. It is clear from our study that the half time transfer values (T50) alter from the apex to the base of the lungs in both smokers and nonsmokers. The mean apical T50 values are 56.0 and 56.7 min for the right and left lung respectively in nonsmokers and 12.5 and 12.6 min in smokers. The basal T50 values are 77.5 and 76.9 min for the right and left lung respectively in nonsmokers and 24 and 24.2 min in smokers. These figures suggest that cigarette smoke affects all lung regions and that the transfer values in the apices are more rapid than in the bases in both smokers and nonsmokers.