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. 2021 Jan;25(1):e35-e40.
doi: 10.1055/s-0039-3402495. Epub 2020 Apr 24.

Mucociliary Clearance of Different Respiratory Conditions: A Clinical Study

Juliana Souza Uzeloto  1 , Dionei Ramos  1 , Bruna Spolador de Alencar Silva  1 , Mariana Belon Previatto de Lima  1 , Rebeca Nunes Silva  1 , Carlos Augusto Camillo  2 , Ercy Mara Cipulo Ramos  1
Affiliations

Mucociliary Clearance of Different Respiratory Conditions: A Clinical Study

Juliana Souza Uzeloto et al. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

Introduction Mucociliary clearance (MCC) is the first line of defense of the pulmonary system. Mucociliary clearance impairment may lead to increased risk of respiratory infections, lung injury, pulmonary repair problems, chronic dysfunctions and progression of respiratory diseases. Objective To characterize the MCC of active and passive smokers and individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and compare the MCC behaviors between men and women of different age groups. Methods Patients with COPD (current smokers and ex-smokers) and apparently healthy individuals (current smokers, passive smokers and nonsmokers) were evaluated. All of the subjects underwent lung function and MCC evaluation (saccharin transport test [STT]). Smokers (with or without COPD) were questioned about the smoking history. Results A total of 418 individuals aged 16 to 82 years old, of both genders, were evaluated. The STT values of active and passive smokers were statistically higher than those of the control group ( p < 0.01). Men of the control group had lower values of STT than active smokers (9.7 ± 7.1 and 15.4 ± 10.1 minute, respectively, p < 0.01). In addition, higher MCC velocity was observed in women that are current smokers (11.7 ± 6.8 minute) compared with men (15.4 ± 10.1 minute) in this group ( p = 0.01). Among the younger age groups (< 50 years old), only passive smokers presented higher STT in relation to the control group. Conclusion Passive and active smoking are factors that influence negatively the MCC, and passive smokers may present losses of this mechanism at a younger age. Additionally, male smokers present worse MCC than male nonsmokers.

Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; mucociliary clearance; passive smoking; saccharin; smoking.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interests The authors have no conflicts of interests to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Comparison of the saccharin transit test between the groups evaluated (*: difference detected in Dunn post-hoc between control and current smokers groups; **: difference detected in Dunn post-hoc between control and passive smokers groups); STT: saccharin transport test; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Comparison of the saccharin transit test among the five groups in the different genders (*: difference detected in Dunn post-hoc between male in the control and current smokers groups; **: p  = 0.01 in the comparison between male and female current smokers); STT: saccharin transport test; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Comparison of the saccharin transit test among the five groups, classified by age range ≤ and > 50 years old (*: difference detected in Dunn post-hoc between the control and passive smokers ≤ 50 years old); STT: saccharin transport test; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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