Assessment of the alveolar clearance: a critical review

Respiratory homeostasis is fine-tuned system largely dependent on the clearance of inhaled substances from both upper and lower airways. The least studied alveolar clearance, which, however, crucial for proper lung function requires a detailed examination in order to improve accuracy diagnosis treatment diseases. Here, I analysed relevant literature publicly available databases (Index Medicus, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, Google Patents) compare various methods determining their advantages shortcomings, applicability routine clinical practice prospects use. most accessible, informative, inexpensive method assess bronchoalveolar lavage study fluid. Confocal laser endomicroscopy, new powerful imaging modality, has not been widely implemented hitherto. A non-invasive inhalation radioaerosol tracer studying vivo seems be promising but still adaptation broad