Ventilation heterogeneity is frequent in bronchial asthma and can be assessed using multiple breath wash-out testing (MBW). Most data is available in paediatric patients and using nitrogen as a tracer gas. We aimed to evaluate sulphur hexafluoride (SF) MBW in adult asthmatics. Spirometry, whole-body plethysmography, impulse oscillometry and SF-MBW were prospectively performed. MBW parameters reflecting global (lung clearance index, LCI), acinar (S) and conductive (S) ventilation heterogeneity were derived from three consecutive wash-outs. LCI was calculated for the traditional 2.5% and an earlier 5% stopping point that has the potential to reduce wash-out times. 91 asthmatics (66%) and 47 non-asthmatic controls (34%) were included in final analysis. LCI and LCI were higher in asthmatics (p < 0.001). Likewise, S and S were elevated (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01). Coefficient of variation was 3.4% for LCI and 3.5% for LCI in asthmatics. Forty-one asthmatic patients had normal spirometry. ROC analysis revealed an AUC of 0.906 for the differentiation from non-asthmatic controls exceeding diagnostic performance of individual and conventional parameters (AUC = 0.819, p < 0.05). SF-MBW is feasible and reproducible in adult asthmatics. Ventilation heterogeneity is increased as compared to non-asthmatic controls persisting in asthmatic patients with normal spirometry. Diagnostic performance is not affected using an earlier LCI stopping point while reducing wash-out duration considerably.

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