Abstract
Introduction: A substantial proportion of patients with obstructive lung disease have clinical features of both asthma and COPD. 129Xe MRI is highly sensitive to lung function and may be able to assist in phenotyping patients.
Objective: To investigate relationships between 129Xe MRI and pulmonary function test metrics in patients with asthma and/or COPD.
Methods: 50 patients with asthma and/or COPD taking part in the NOVELTY study (NCT02760329, Reddel HK et al ERJ Open Res 2019 5(1):00036-2018) were recruited from 2 primary care centres. Patients were assessed with 129Xe MRI (ventilation, acinar microstructure and gas exchange) and pulmonary function tests.
Results: 129Xe MRI ventilation, acinar dimension and gas exchange metrics showed moderate-to-strong correlations with spirometry and TLCO, and with each other. Example images are shown in fig 1.
VDP correlated strongly with FEV1/FVC and lung clearance index, and weakly with R20 and AX. RBC/gas and acinar airway dimensions correlated strongly with TLCO.
Conclusion: Preliminary MRI analyses show reduced ventilation, increased acinar airway dimensions and reduced gas transfer ratios with increasing disease severity (decreased spirometry and TLCO) in a broadly defined group of patients with asthma and/or COPD, consistent with airway obstruction, enlarged alveolar airspaces, reduced alveolar-capillary barrier thickness and reduced gas transfer.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA1872.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021