MRI assessment of cystic fibrosis and primary ciliary dyskinesia

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Use of MRI in the assessment of cystic fibrosis and primary ciliary dyskinesia - A clinical feasibility study

  • IRAS ID

    196228

  • Contact name

    Anand Devaraj

  • Contact email

    A.Devaraj@rbht.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    The Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 8 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common inherited fatal diseases in Caucasians and causes a progressive lung disease. At birth the lungs are normal, but over time the airways dilate and become thick walled with progressive loss of functioning of lung tissue.
    Currently the best way of imaging the rate and extent of lung change is via computed tomography (CT). However, this involves exposure to ionising radiation and there is concern that repeated exposures increase the risk of cancers in later life.
    Advances in treatments have increased life expectancy to approximately 40 years, thus increasing the importance of minimising risk of repeated CT.
    Recent technological advances have led to better visualisation of the lungs via MRI. Recent studies have reported diagnostic quality lung images via MRI with the advantage of not using ionising radiation. Other MRI techniques involving assessment of blood flow and ventilation have been shown to provide further information not currently obtainable via CT.
    Primary ciliary dyskinesias (PCD) are a group of different conditions that cause similar lung changes again requiring repeated CT follow-up.
    We wish to determine whether MRI could perform at least as well as CT in the routine clinical assessment of lung disease in CF and PCD and whether techniques currently unique to MRI could provide novel biomarkers of disease severity.

    We want to run a small pilot study. Patients would undergo MRI in addition to the CT they would routinely undergo. The examinations would be within the same week with as little interval time as is practicable. The MRI images will then be assessed by reviewers blinded to the CT images to compare the diagnostic value of MRI compared to CT. In a small number of patients undergoing acute outpatient or inpatient treatment, the MRI may be repeated at the end of their treatment episode.

  • REC name

    Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    16/YH/0351

  • Date of REC Opinion

    22 Sep 2016

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion