First comparative results about the direct effect of traditional cigarette and e-cigarette smoking on lung alveolocapillary membrane using dynamic ventilation scintigraphy.

Introduction:
This text is a comparative study on the impact of traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes on lung alveolocapillary membrane using dynamic ventilation scintigraphy. The study included 24 volunteers who used e-cigarettes containing at least 10 mg nicotine/ml and performed baseline DIS (dynamic inhalation scintigraphy) studies. The volunteers were then asked to smoke traditional cigarettes for a week, and DIS studies were repeated. The study aimed to analyze the effect of traditional cigarettes on clinical parameters and pulmonary clearance of the radiopharmacon.

Key Points:

* The study is a prospective, self-controlled study that included 24 healthy volunteers who were regular e-cigarette users.
* The study used dynamic inhalation scintigraphy (DIS) with technetium-99m-diethylenetriamine-pentaacetate aerosol to measure the damage to the alveolocapillary membrane.
* The volunteers were asked to smoke traditional cigarettes for a week after the baseline DIS study.
* The study found that exhaled CO and COHb levels were significantly higher in traditional cigarette use (P<0.0001), and increased in every case.
* The pulmonary clearance was significantly faster at traditional cigarette smoking compared with e-cigarette use (P<0.0001).
* The study concluded that e-cigarette smoking is less harmful to the lung function than traditional cigarettes, and it can be recommended to heavy smokers who are unable to stop smoking.

Main Message:
The main message of the study is that e-cigarettes are less harmful to the lung function than traditional cigarettes. The study provides evidence that traditional cigarettes cause more damage to the alveolocapillary membrane than e-cigarettes. Therefore, e-cigarettes can be an optional way for heavy smokers unable to stop smoking. However, the long-term effects of e-cigarette use are not yet known, and further investigations are needed to examine the effect of different nicotine concentrations in vaporized liquid solutions on pulmonary function. It is also important to note that the study had limitations, such as a small number of volunteers and variable nicotine concentrations in e-cigarettes. Therefore, the results should be interpreted with caution. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the comparative effects of traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes on lung function.

Barna S, Rózsa D, Varga J, et al. First comparative results about the direct effect of traditional cigarette and e-cigarette smoking on lung alveolocapillary membrane using dynamic ventilation scintigraphy. Nucl Med Commun. 2019;40:153-158. doi:10.1097/MNM.0000000000000957