MRI Imaging for Asthma
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
+1 other location
Overseen byGrace E Parraga, PhD
Age: 18 - 65
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: Dr. Grace Parraga
No Placebo Group
Approved in 2 Jurisdictions
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?The investigators will apply 129Xenon and/or 3He image acquisition and analysis methods in 200 asthma patient volunteers in order to characterize and probe the relationship between lung structure and function using imaging.
Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?
The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.
What data supports the idea that MRI Imaging for Asthma is an effective treatment?
The available research shows that MRI Imaging for Asthma, using special gases like helium-3 and xenon-129, helps doctors see how air moves in the lungs and spot any problems. This method is safe because it doesn't use harmful radiation, making it suitable for repeated use, especially in children. It can show issues like airway inflammation and blockages, which are common in asthma. This imaging technique is quick, affordable, and well-tolerated by patients, providing valuable insights into asthma symptoms and helping doctors plan personalized treatments.
12345What safety data exists for hyperpolarized noble gas MRI in asthma treatment?
The safety of hyperpolarized noble gas MRI, using helium-3 (3He) or xenon-129 (129Xe), has been discussed in several studies. These gases are used as inhalable contrast agents for MRI, providing a non-invasive method to evaluate lung function without ionizing radiation. The technology has been applied in both adult and pediatric populations, including those with asthma, and is considered promising for clinical use. However, it is still primarily limited to research settings and selected academic institutions. The existing safety data suggests that it is a feasible and safe method for lung imaging, but further clinical translation and studies are needed to fully establish its safety profile.
12678Is MRI Imaging for Asthma a promising treatment?
Yes, MRI imaging using hyperpolarized gases like helium-3 is promising for asthma. It helps doctors see how air moves in the lungs without using harmful x-rays, making it safer for repeated use, especially in children. This can lead to better understanding and treatment of asthma.
12349Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for stable, non-smoking adults aged 18-60 with asthma. Participants must understand the study and consent to it, have a history of less than 1 pack/year of smoking, and be able to perform consistent lung function tests with FEV1 over 60% predicted.Inclusion Criteria
You have smoked less than one pack of cigarettes per year.
Your lung function test shows that you can breathe out a good amount of air.
I can perform consistent lung function tests.
+3 more
Exclusion Criteria
I cannot perform certain lung function tests.
I am able to understand and consent to the study on my own.
In the investigator's opinion, subject suffers from any physical, psychological or other condition(s) that might prevent performance of the MRI, such as severe claustrophobia
+2 more
Participant Groups
The trial is using Hyperpolarized Noble Gas MRI technology on 200 volunteers with asthma to explore how their lung structure relates to lung function. It involves imaging lungs using two types of gases: Xenon (129Xenon) and Helium (3He).
1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Asthma PatientsExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
All enrolled asthma patients will undergo hyperpolarized noble gas MRI with Helium-3 and/or Xenon-129, Pulmonary Function Tests, Quality of Life Questionnaires, dyspnea scales in two visits over three years.
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
Robarts Research Insitute; The University of Western Ontario; London Health Sciences CentreLondon, Canada
Robarts Research Institute; The University of Western Ontario; London Health Sciences CentreLondon, Canada
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Dr. Grace ParragaLead Sponsor
References
Imaging the lungs in asthmatic patients by using hyperpolarized helium-3 magnetic resonance: assessment of response to methacholine and exercise challenge. [2019]Imaging of gas distribution in the lungs of patients with asthma has been restricted because of the lack of a suitable gaseous contrast agent. Hyperpolarized helium-3 (HHe3) provides a new technique for magnetic resonance imaging of lung diseases.
Pulmonary functional magnetic resonance imaging for paediatric lung disease. [2013]A better understanding of the anatomic structure and physiological function of the lung is fundamental to understanding the pathogenesis of pulmonary disease and how to design and deliver better treatments and measure response to intervention. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the hyperpolarised noble gases helium-3 ((3)He) and xenon-129 ((129)Xe) provides both structural and functional pulmonary measurements, and because it does not require the use of x-rays or other ionising radiation, offers the potential for intensive serial and longitudinal studies in paediatric patients. These facts are particularly important in the evaluation of chronic lung diseases such as asthma and cystic fibrosis- both of which can be considered paediatric respiratory diseases with unmet therapy needs. This review discusses MRI-based imaging methods with a focus on hyperpolarised gas MRI. We also discuss the strengths and limitations as well as the future work required for clinical translation towards paediatric respiratory disease.
[Magnetic resonance tomography with inhalation of polarized noble gases: new perspectives in functional imaging diagnosis of emphysema]. [2015]Based on a review of the background of MRI using inhaled hyperpolarized noble gases first experiences and perspectives for functional imaging in emphysema patients are presented.
Hyperpolarized (3) He and (129) Xe MRI: differences in asthma before bronchodilation. [2022]To compare hyperpolarized helium-3 ((3) He) and xenon-129 ((129) Xe) MRI in asthmatics before and after salbutamol inhalation.
Pulmonary functional MRI: Detecting the structure-function pathologies that drive asthma symptoms and quality of life. [2023]Pulmonary functional MRI (PfMRI) using inhaled hyperpolarized, radiation-free gases (such as 3 He and 129 Xe) provides a way to directly visualize inhaled gas distribution and ventilation defects (or ventilation heterogeneity) in real time with high spatial (~mm3 ) resolution. Both gases enable quantitative measurement of terminal airway morphology, while 129 Xe uniquely enables imaging the transfer of inhaled gas across the alveolar-capillary tissue barrier to the red blood cells. In patients with asthma, PfMRI abnormalities have been shown to reflect airway smooth muscle dysfunction, airway inflammation and remodelling, luminal occlusions and airway pruning. The method is rapid (8-15 s), cost-effective (~$300/scan) and very well tolerated in patients, even in those who are very young or very ill, because unlike computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography and single-photon emission CT, there is no ionizing radiation and the examination takes only a few seconds. However, PfMRI is not without limitations, which include the requirement of complex image analysis, specialized equipment and additional training and quality control. We provide an overview of the three main applications of hyperpolarized noble gas MRI in asthma research including: (1) inhaled gas distribution or ventilation imaging, (2) alveolar microstructure and finally (3) gas transfer into the alveolar-capillary tissue space and from the tissue barrier into red blood cells in the pulmonary microvasculature. We highlight the evidence that supports a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of asthma worsening over time and the pathologies responsible for symptoms and disease control. We conclude with a summary of approaches that have the potential for integration into clinical workflows and that may be used to guide personalized treatment planning.
Pulmonary hyperpolarized noble gas MRI: recent advances and perspectives in clinical application. [2017]The invention of hyperpolarized (HP) noble gas MRI using helium-3 ((3)He) or xenon-129 ((129)Xe) has provided a new method to evaluate lung function. Using HP (3)He or (129)Xe for inhalation into the lung air spaces as an MRI contrast agent significantly increases MR signal and makes pulmonary ventilation imaging feasible. This review focuses on important aspects of pulmonary HP noble gas MRI, including the following: (1) functional imaging types, (2) applications for major pulmonary diseases, (3) safety considerations, and (4) future directions. Although it is still challenging to use pulmonary HP noble gas MRI clinically, the technology offers promise for the investigation of the microstructure and function of the lungs.
Small animal imaging with hyperpolarized 129Xe magnetic resonance. [2019]High-sensitivity nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of gaseous atoms realized by using a hyperpolarization technique is an attractive research tool used in a wide range of areas, such as physics, chemistry, material science and biomedical imaging. One of the most promising applications of this technology is the use as a noninvasive diagnostic tool for pulmonary diseases, where hyperpolarized (HP) noble gases, (3)He and (129)Xe, play a role as gaseous (i.e. inhalable) contrast agents of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). During the last two decades, lung MRI with HP gases has become widely applicable from mouse to human. In this review we present a brief overview of recent progress made by our group in the development of HP (129)Xe MR measurements, while focusing on the methodology for probing pulmonary dysfunctions in mice.
The role of hyperpolarized 129xenon in MR imaging of pulmonary function. [2018]In the last two decades, functional imaging of the lungs using hyperpolarized noble gases has entered the clinical stage. Both helium (3He) and xenon (129Xe) gas have been thoroughly investigated for their ability to assess both the global and regional patterns of lung ventilation. With advances in polarizer technology and the current transition towards the widely available 129Xe gas, this method is ready for translation to the clinic. Currently, hyperpolarized (HP) noble gas lung MRI is limited to selected academic institutions; yet, the promising results from initial clinical trials have drawn the attention of the pulmonary medicine community. HP 129Xe MRI provides not only 3-dimensional ventilation imaging, but also unique capabilities for probing regional lung physiology. In this review article, we aim to (1) provide a brief overview of current ventilation MR imaging techniques, (2) emphasize the role of HP 129Xe MRI within the array of different imaging strategies, (3) discuss the unique imaging possibilities with HP 129Xe MRI, and (4) propose clinical applications.
Simultaneous imaging of lung structure and function with triple-nuclear hybrid MR imaging. [2022]To re-engineer a standard clinical magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system to enable the acquisition, in the same breath hold, of lung images from two hyperpolarized gases (helium 3 [(3)He] and xenon 129 [(129)Xe]) with simultaneous registered anatomic proton (hydrogen 1 [(1)H]) MR images of lung structure.