Lung clearance index: Normal values, repeatability, and reproducibility in healthy children and adolescents
- 12 November 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Pediatric Pulmonology
- Vol. 44 (12), 1180-1185
- https://doi.org/10.1002/ppul.21093
Abstract
There is increasing interest in using the Multiple Breath Washout technique and the lung clearance index (LCI) for detecting early pulmonary changes, for example, in cystic fibrosis lung disease. However, there are still limited data regarding equipment specific reference ranges, repeatability and reproducibility. The aim of this prospective study was to assess within-test repeatability, short term reproducibility and long term reproducibility, and to establish normal values for the LCI in healthy children and adolescents using the sidestream ultrasonic flow sensor (EasyOne Pro, MBW Module, ndd Medical Technologies, Switzerland). Fourty-four volunteers (5.3–20.3 years) were recruited for the 1st test. Twenty-two out of 44 were measured on a 2nd test occasion after an interval of 1 hr (2nd test). Thirty-four out of 44 agreed to come back for a follow up test 6–15 months later (3rd test). Mean LCI (SD) was 6.2 (0.4), 6.3 (0.4), and 6.0 (0.4) at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd test. The upper limit of normal was 7.0 for all subjects. Within-test repeatability was 5.1%. Short-term reproducibility (1st test vs. 2nd test) was 4.2% with a mean difference of −0.13 (95% CI −0.350; 0.087). Long-term reproducibility (1st test vs. 3rd test) was 5.1%, with a mean difference of 0.017 (95% CI −0.016; 0.348). With this low variability of the LCI for both, within and between tests, our study demonstrates reliability and robustness of equipment, protocol and analysis and the reliability of the MBW technique in general. The present data will help to interpret the effect of therapeutic interventions and interpretation of longitudinal data in patients with pulmonary diseases. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:1180–1185.Keywords
Funding Information
- Mukoviszidose e.V., Germany
- Roche AG
This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit:
- Hygienic safety of an ultrasonic flow sensor for multiple breath washoutPediatric Pulmonology, 2008
- A novel sidestream ultrasonic flow sensor for multiple breath washout in childrenPediatric Pulmonology, 2008
- Lung clearance index is a sensitive, repeatable and practical measure of airways disease in adults with cystic fibrosisThorax, 2007
- Multiple-breath inert gas washout and spirometry versus structural lung disease in cystic fibrosisThorax, 2007
- Optimized temperature and deadspace correction improve analysis of multiple breath washout measurements by ultrasonic flowmeter in infantsPediatric Pulmonology, 2007
- Early detection of cystic fibrosis lung disease: multiple-breath washout versus raised volume testsThorax, 2007
- Multiple breath inert gas washout as a measure of ventilation distribution in children with cystic fibrosisThorax, 2004
- Repeatability of airway resistance measurements made using the interrupter techniqueThorax, 2003
- Measurement of lung volume and ventilation distribution with an ultrasonic flow meter in healthy infantsEuropean Respiratory Journal, 2002
- Statistics in respiratory medicine. 2. Repeatability and method comparison.Thorax, 1991